Bhubaneswar, Sep 1 (PTI) The low pressure induced heavy rain on Tuesday lashed parts of Odisha, leading to an increase in the water level of various rivers in the northern region of the state and causing fresh floods in the districts of Mayurbhanj and Jajpur, officials said.
The IMD forecast more rain in several districts including Sudergarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Deogarh and Angul on Wednesday.
The state government geared up to tackle the situation by deploying relief and rescue teams in 147 villages inundated by the flood water of rivers Budhabalanga and Baitarani in Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts.
Two wards of Baripada town were waterlogged due to ingress of flood water. Over 2,000 people were shifted to relief centres in Mayurbhanj district, the officials said.
“Flood water and heavy rain continue to affect people in 146 villages and one urban area in Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts. Immediate priorities have been given to access to cut-off habitations, supply of cooked food and safe drinking water,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh P Patil said.
While floodwater entered 84 villages and two urban wards in Mayurbhanj district, 62 villages have been affected in Jajpur district, he said.
The Mayurbhanj district administration said all government and private schools in six blocks — Saraskana, Bangiriposi, Bisoi, Kuliana, Badasahi and Betanati — will be closed till the situation improves.
The decision was taken to ensure the safety of students. Classes will resume once rainfall eases and roads become passable. Parents have been advised to keep children at home and avoid unnecessary travel, a notification said.
In Balasore district, the Jalaka river has touched the danger mark of 6.50 metres at Mathani Road Bridge in Basta block and is on a rising trend.
Around 10 panchayats in Basta block and two in Sadar block face inundation. The Subarnarekha is also rising, adding pressure on northern Balasore, officials said.
Similarly, the Baitarani river at Akhuapada in Bhadrak was flowing at 18.20 metres against the danger level of18.33 metres. Low-lying areas in Jajpur district’s Dasarathpur, Bari and Binjharpur blocks and Bhadrak’s Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar, Chandbali and Tihidi blocks also fear fresh flooding.
Dasarathpur block in Jajpur district has been under flood impact for nearly 56 days since the first week of July, officials said.
According to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well-marked low pressure system has triggered intense rainfall across several northern and western districts.
The state recorded an average rainfall of 14 mm since Monday against the normal showers of 7.8 mm, with the highest rainfall of 309.2 mm recorded at Bangriposi Block in Mayurbhanj district.
With heavy rainfall across the north and western region, the overall river situation remains under close watch, with regular monitoring and necessary preparedness being maintained by the concerned administrations, a revenue department official said.
The low pressure system is likely to move west-northwestwards across north Odisha-Gangetic West Bengal on Wednesday.
While forecasting more downpour till 8.30 am on Wednesday, the IMD issued an Orange Warning (rainfall between 12 cm to 20 cm) of heavy to very heavy rainfall, which is very likely to occur in the three districts of Sudergarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
The weather office also forecast heavy rain (7 cm to 11 cm) over the districts of Balasore, Deogarh, Angul, Bhadrak, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur during the same period.
Officials of the Water Resources Department said that due to incessant rains for the last two days, water levels in several rivers across north Odisha have started rising again.
Rivers like Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Subarnarekha are in spate, though none of them has crossed the danger mark by 6 pm on Tuesday.
“As per today’s reports, in Jajpur district, one block—Dasarathpur—remains affected, with 19 GPs and 62 villages affected. The number of affected people has been recorded at 7,745 today, with 22 relief camps operational,” the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office said.
It added that 84 villages along with Baripada town in Mayurbhanj were also affected by floods. As many as 2,076 people have been evacuated. 11 relief camps are operational and covering 2,076 beneficiaries.
The state government has geared up relief and rescue operations by making arrangements including safe drinking water, sanitation, lighting, medical support and food.
Altogether 22 rescue teams are deployed in Jajpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj. PTI COR AAM NN
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