Flood Situation Improves In Jajpur, Bhadrak

Bhubaneswar: Flood situation in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts has improved with the gradual recession of the floodwater of the Baitarani.

Till 9 am on Sunday, the river was flowing below the danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak and Raghat in Anandpur in Keonjhar district.

Talking to mediapersons here, Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said that the floodwater of Baitarani started receding since Sunday afternoon as there is no rainfall in the upper and lower catchments.

“In case of inundation of any area in these two districts, the collectors have been asked to take immediate step to evacuate the people and keep them at flood shelters. They will be provided cooked food and all necessary assistance,” he added.

In a release, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said 83,474 people of 69 villages in 37 gram panchayats of Binjharpur, Dasarathpur and Korei blocks and two wards of Jajpur municipality have been affected by flood. While 55 houses have been damaged, 4009 hectares of paddy fields submerged in Jajpur district.

Till Saturday, the district administration had evacuated 3860 people and opened 30 free kitchen centres with 26 in Binjharpur block, three in Dasarathpur block and one in the two wards of Jajpur Municipality.

An ODRAF team and one NDRF team have been deployed in the Dasarathpur block, while a NDRF team stationed in Binjharpur block.

Fodder and polythene have been distributed in Binjharpur and Dasarathpur blocks.

In Bhadrak district, 1,71,365 people of 122 villages in 38 gram panchayats of Tihidi, Dhamnagar, Chandbali and Bhadrak blocks and Dhamnagar Notified Area Council (NAC) have been affected by the flood. While four cattle have died, 34,152 hectares of paddy fields have been submerged.

Till Saturday, the district administration had provided relief to 8495 people in Bhadrak block and engaged 20 boats for relief and rescue operations.

Apart from this, a veterinary mobile team is engaged in Tihidi, Dhamnagar, Bhadrak, Bhandaripokhari and Chandbali blocks.

The release further said that in Kendrapara district, 9 blocks and two urban local bodies (ULBs) have been affected by the flood.

The district administration has opened 30 relief camps and distributed polythene sheets among 3000 people in the flood-hit areas.

Emergency Operation Centres at state and district levels along with line departments are functioning round-the-clock. For relief and rescue operations, the ODRAF, Fire Services and NDRF teams have been deployed. While power boats in Jajpur and Bhadrak district have been deployed, all field functionaries and mobile teams are keeping a close watch on vulnerable river and canal embankments with special arrangements to protect and repair the weak and vulnerable points, the release added.

The collectors have been instructed to remain in readiness with power boats/ country boats for evacuation. A total of 44 flood and cyclone shelters are kept ready with lighting and sanitation arrangements. Besides, cooked food, safe drinking water and healthcare arrangements have been ensured by the collectors at these shelters.

Meanwhile, the state government has cancelled the leave of the employees of 14 blocks of these four districts and asked to remain present at their place of work on Saturday and Sunday.

The collectors have been instructed to keep satellite phones in order to receive necessary information from the field staff.

The Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service, has been instructed to supply 100 metric tonnes of cattle feed each to Jajpur and Bhadrak districts.