BHUBANESWAR: Over one lakh people in four districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj have been affected by floods in Baitarani, Brahmani and Jalaka rivers following heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas induced by the deep depression over north interior Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal.
Official sources said over 23,600 people in the four districts have been evacuated from low-lying areas to safer places. Around 500 villages have been affected in the flood and several houses have also been damaged.
Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Tuesday. The minister said the next 12 hours would be crucial and directed the SRC office to remain functional throughout the night for continuous monitoring of the situation.
He said Brahmani, Baitarani and Jalaka rivers were rising at Anandpur, Akhuapada and Mathani. Around 12 ODRAF and five NDRF teams have been deployed in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur districts for relief and rescue measures. Collectors and BDOs of all these districts have been asked to remain on high alert.
Police have intensified night patrolling and women personnel have also been deployed to ensure safety and security, he said.
According to the situation report issued by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Balasore district received the highest average rainfall of 144.3 mm during the last 24 hours. While 30 roads have been damaged in the district, 300 houses were also broken in Oupada block of the district. The district administration has opened 52 free kitchen centres for 8,646 affected people.
Similarly, in Jajpur district, 35 shelters have been opened for affected people and 12,191 people evacuated to safer places. Train communication was affected in Keonjhar district where rainwater submerged railway tracks. As a result, the Barbil-Puri passenger train was halted at Keonjhar station while the Puri-Barbil passenger train was stranded at Naranpur station.
The state government has deputed three senior IAS officers for flood management in three districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur, which have been the worst hit. While Sudarshan Chakraborty has been given charge of Balasore, Sudhansu Samal will look after Bhadrak and P Anwesha Reddy will monitor the situation in Jajpur district.
Schools and anganwadi centres in Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Sundargarh have been closed on Wednesday in view of the heavy rainfall and submergence of low-lying areas.
Stating that evacuation of people living in low-lying areas has already started, Pujari said, officials have been asked shift more people to safer places if required. Instructions have also been given to open flood shelters and community kitchens at more places as required.
Pujari urged people not to panic and to follow the instructions of the administration. “The government is closely monitoring the situation,” he stated.