Bhubaneswar: With heavy rain battering many parts of Odisha, the flood situation remained critical in the state as several rivers are in spate inundating many villages in affected districts.
Rivers like Subarnarekha, Budhabalang, Baitarani and Brahmani continued to swell with floodwaters snapping road connectivity in several areas.
The body of a man, who was swept away by the floodwaters of Subarnarekha River in Balasore district on Tuesday, was recovered by a team of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), sources said.
The deceased has been identified as Rakesh Singh of Bishnupur village in Balasore district. Singh had gone missing on Tuesday afternoon while bathing in the floodwaters.
The Subarnarekha River continued to flow above the danger mark, causing widespread flooding in the district. The floodwaters have inundated several villages in Baliapal block, with over 20 villages affected in six panchayats. The water level on the roads is waist-deep, with some areas experiencing water levels up to 4-5 feet.
The flood has caused substantial damage to crops and infrastructure, with thousands of people affected. The district administration has deployed teams from the Odisha Fire Service, ODRAF, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assist in rescue and relief operations.
A report from Jajpur said flood fear gripped several low-lying areas in the district after the water level of Baitarani River breached the danger mark due to incessant rainfall triggered by a low-pressure.
Baitarani was reportedly flowing at 18.25 metre against the danger mark 17.83 metre near Akhuapada village of the district.
Flood fear loomed over many panchayats of Dasarathapur, Korei, Binjharpur and Jajpur blocks.
The district administration is monitoring the situation and has directed field-level officials to remain alert.
Meanwhile, normal life was disrupted in parts of Koraput district following incessant rain triggered by a low-pressure system over the region. The downpour has led to a sharp rise in the water levels of several rivers and streams, submerging roads and disrupting vehicular movement.
Sources said a temporary bridge near Bangalaguda under Koraput block got submerged early Wednesday morning, with nearly two feet of water flowing over it. Vehicular movement on the route has come to a grinding halt.
Officials said the state government has sent two specialised health teams to Keonjhar, Balsore, and Mayurbhanj districts to monitor, manage, and support the local response efforts as part efforts to prevent outbreak of water-borne diseases in the flood-affected areas.
A dedicated team under the leadership of Dr Prameela Baral, Additional Director of Public Health, has been deployed to Keonjhar district to oversee the post-diarrhoea situations.
The team is closely monitoring the situation on the ground, particularly focusing on water-and food-borne diseases. It is working in close coordination with the district administration to analyse the current health scenario, implement appropriate prevention and control measures.
Similarly, another team led by Dr. Binay Das Mohapatra, Joint Director, has been deployed to Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts to assess the impact of the ongoing flood situation and to help prevent the emergence of water-borne diseases.
The team is working closely with district authorities to monitor for any unusual health events, issue advisories to prevent outbreaks, and implement measures to address and manage snake bite cases, officials added.
