Baitarani In Spate: Odisha Govt Sounds Flood Alert In Four Districts

Bhubaneswar: With the floodwater of Baitarani crossing the danger level, the Odisha government on Friday sounded flood alert in four districts and directed the collectors to stay on high alert.

Briefing mediapersons here in the evening, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Maheswar Mohanty, said there is a steady rise in the water level of the Baitarani river following heavy rainfall in the upper catchments since the last 72 hours under the influence of a deep depression over the North Bay of Bengal.

“While the river is flowing over the danger mark at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district and Rajghat in Anandpur of Keonjhar district, more floodwater of the river will reach Akhuapada by evening on Saturday. Considering the situation, the collectors of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Kendrapara districts have been asked to stay on high alert,” he informed.

Stating that about 10-12 tehsils would be affected by the flood, he said that the state government has cancelled the leave of all government employees of these four districts on Saturday and Sunday.

The NDRF and the ODRAF have been kept in readiness To meet any eventuality, Mohanty pointed out.