BHUBANESWAR: Floods have returned to Odisha once again and expanded to southwestern districts as the latest low pressure-induced heavy rains have effected increase in water levels of Baitarani, Jalaka and Indravati rivers. Apart from Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Koraput districts have come under the grip of floods.
The affected areas include Dasarathpur, Bari, Rasulpur, Binjharpur and Jajpur blocks in Jajpur district; Kendrapara, Aul, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Pattamundai blocks in Kendrapara district; Bhadrak, Tihidi and Chandbali blocks in Bhadrak district, and Bhograi and Baliapal blocks in Balasore district.
Similarly, the swelling waters of Indravati river have inundated villages under Thuamul Rampur, Jayapatna, Kalampur, Koksara and Junagarh blocks of Kalahandi district and Kotpad block of Koraput district. Besides, water has entered several villages under Papadahandi block of Nabarangpur district, official sources said.
Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari said the state is now grappling with flood situation in several rivers due to heavy rains under the influence of back-to-back low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal. “Assistance is being provided to the affected people through relief camps,” he said.
As per official sources, nearly 4.87 lakh people in flood-affected districts have so far been shifted to safer places and relief camps. They said during the last 24 hours, the state recorded an average of 32.9 mm rainfall.
The highest rainfall of 169.4 mm was recorded in Joda block of Keonjhar district. Besides, more than 100 mm rainfall was recorded at Papadahandi (158 mm), Paikmal (120 mm), Kusumi (117 mm), Jharigaon (112.6 mm) and Jashipur 108 mm. Rainfall between 50 mm and 100 mm was recorded at 73 blocks and six stations in four urban local bodies (ULBs).
Between August 1 and 24, the state received cumulative rainfall of 327.0 mm, which is 18.6 per cent above the normal rainfall of 275.6 mm. Similarly, cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 24 stood at 1,083.2 mm, which is 32.1 per cent above normal, official sources said.
To further strengthen rescue and relief operations in flood-affected and waterlogged areas, 67 teams of ODRAF, NDRF and Fire and Emergency services have been deployed.
Besides, Rs 170.30 crore has been released in phases from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for relief and restoration measures. District administrations have also been asked to keep a close eye on the emerging situation, they said.
