BHUBANESWAR: Heavy rainfall in Jharkahand and the catchment areas of rivers passing through northern parts of Odisha has triggered flash floods in Subarnarekha, Jalaka and Jambhira rivers prompting Balasore district administration to rush relief materials to vulnerable pockets.
According to official sources, Subarnarekha and Jalaka have crossed the danger mark inundating vast areas in Baliapal and Bhogarai blocks of Balasore district which is facing second flood of the season in a month. The water level in Subarnarekha stood at 11.18 meter at 9 pm against the red mark of 10.36 meter at Rajghat while Jalaka was flowing at 6.52 meter against the danger level of 5.5 meter at Mathani.
With the water level of Subarnarekha increasing by 0.1 meter every hour due to discharge of rainwater from Galudih barrage in Jharkhand, the administration is expecting a major flood in the river by Wednesday.
At least 120 villages in four blocks of the district will be affected if the water level crosses 11.7 meter mark. People are scared as heavy rainfall is forecast in Jharkhand in next 24 hours. Sources said Galudih barrage, which was releasing 2.67 lakh cusec water per second through 12 gates in the morning, has closed four gates and it is now discharging 1.88 lakh cusec water.
Reviewing flood situation and related preparedness, Balasore Collector Pramod Kumar Das said while one unit of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been sent to Bhogarai, a team of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) has been asked to camp at Basta and Baliapal.
“BDOs and Tehsildars have been put on alert and asked to be ready for any exigencies. Relief materials have been stocked at vulnerable places and officials told to keep a tab on river embankments to prevent breaches which may cause devastation to human habitations,” the Collector said adding that people residing close to rivers are advised to move to safer places.
Meanwhile, a person drowned in the flood water of Jambhira in Mayurbhanj district.
The deceased was identified as Deepak Kumar (32) from Bihar. He was swept away when he was crossing a slope on his bike near Bachhuripada under Rasgobindpur block.
Though his body has been fished out, the bike is yet to be traced. He worked as a salesman at a local liquor shop.