Odisha Flood: Water Flow Drops At Mundali; Breaches Inundate Villages, Disrupt Road Communication

Bhubaneswar:  The flood situation in the Mahanadi river system in Odisha remained grim despite a fall in the discharge of water at the Mundali barrage near Cuttack. While water flow has receded to 1,177,024 cusecs, the river continued to swell over the danger mark of 97.25 feet.

Around 2 lakh people in 1,366 villages and nine ULBs in 10 districts along Mahanadi basin have so far been affected by the flood triggered by back-to-back low pressure, and 20,000 marooned.

On Wednesday, floodwaters inundated Nimapada-Bhubaneswar road at Garapada and Nimapada-Balanga road near Dhamra on Wednesday. Road communication was disrupted with water overflowing on Khurda-Balangir NH-57 near Baghamari. The floodwaters of the Mahanadi have also entered ward 14,15, and 16 of Banki NAC, sources said.

Around 10 villages in 10 panchayats of Gop area may face a similar fate following a 30-ft breach in Kushabhadra river near Khandiakuda.

On the other hand, Dhanua river floodwater has submerged nine panchayats of Nimapada block in Puri. Flood waters have so far damaged over 700 houses.

It is pertinent to mention here that 558 school children were evacuated from Gatirout Patna Saraswati Vidyamandir on Tuesday night in six boats by Odisha Fire Service, five ODRAF boats, and NDRF Munduli team. The collector and DCP of Cuttack visited the school by travelling one kilometre in a powerboat to ensure the safe evacuation of students.

Around 27,000 people from low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places in view of the flood and 90 free kitchens have been opened.