Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in the North Odisha districts has remained grim following heavy rainfall since the last 72 hours under the influence of the deep depression.
In Balasore, the water level of Kansabansa river has touched the danger level at 7.5 metres at Soro, while the water level of Budhabalanga has crossed the danger level at Baruni Ghat. As against the danger level of 8.13 metres, the floodwater of the river was flowing at a height of 8.22 metres. The floodwater of the river has entered the low-lying areas of Sadar block.
Road communication between Salampur and Sonari has been disrupted due to overflowing of floodwater at a height of about 5 feet.
At Mathani, the floodwater of Jalaka river was flowing at a height of 6.5 metres as against the danger level of 5.5 metres. Apart from this, the water level of Sona river was also flowing near the danger level. The floodwater of the river has entered five villages of Kaansa panchayat. Due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchments, authorities of Sunei and Kala dams opened one gate each to release excess water from the two reservoirs resulting in the rise of Sunei and Kala rivers.
In Mayurbhanj district, the water level of Budhabalanga and Gangahara rivers was near the danger level. Till reports last came in, the floodwater of Budhabalanga was flowing at a height of about three feet over a bridge at Patalipura and two feet over the Bitanu bridge at Malatri. Floodwater has entered 13 villages of the Badasahi block.
In Bhadrak district, the water level of Baitarani river was flowing at a height of 18.03 metres above the danger level at 17.83 metres at Akhuapada. Road communication has been disrupted after a 100-feet road was submerged at Kantighai.
According to reports, air dropping of relief items in the cyclone-affected areas of Aska began on Saturday by two helicopters of the Indian Navy. The relief items sent from Bhubaneswar had reached the Rangeilunda airstrip in Berhampur earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, a three-member ministerial committee comprising Maheswar Mohanty, Niranjan Pujari and Susanta Singh left for the cyclone-hit Ganjam district on Saturday to oversee the relief and rescue operations. The committee will have its first meeting with the district officials at Chhatrapur to decide its tour details.
Besides, acting on the directive of the Chief Minister, two ministers, Sashi Bhusan Behera and Ramesh Majhi left for Kandhamal district on Saturday to oversee the relief and rescue operations.
In the wake of the death of 12 people including five children in a landslide near Bharaghar village under Gangabada panchayat in Gajapati district on Friday night, the District Collector Anupam Saha on Saturday told the media that NDRF and the ODRAF teams have left for Bharaghar village to retrieve the bodies of the deceased and rescue four persons who are reportedly trapped under the debris.
“The teams are yet to reach the mishap site as the road is blocked by big trees which had fallen on the road. The teams will reach the spot after clearing the road,” he added.
Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar about the incident, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said the Gajapati collector and SP have been asked to submit a detailed report. “If the report confirms the death, the state government will provide ex-gratia to the family of the deceased,” he added.
The incident took place when the cave, in which the villagers had taken shelter to escape the wrath of the very severe cyclonic storm, suddenly caved in.
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