Balasore: Subarnarekha and Baitarani in Odisha are in a spate owing to the incessant heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the rivers.
According to the Central Water Commission, the Subarnarekha is flowing in a severe situation at Jamshola ghat in Mayurbhanj. “It was flowing at a level of 50.3 metres with a rising trend which is 1.14 m above its danger Level of 49.16 metres.”
Sources added that the release of water from Jharkhand’s Galudih Barrage has exacerbated the situation, contributing to the potential flooding of low-lying areas in Balasore, Heavy rainfall was recorded in the basin areas– 18 mm at Jamshedpur, 150.4 mm at Ghatsila, 40.6 mm at Jamsholaghat, 14.2 mm at Phekghat, and 3 mm at Rajghat.
By 3 pm on Saturday, water level in Galudihi reservoir touched 91.80 metres, prompting authorities to open 13 gates, releasing about 1.90 lakh cusecs of water into the Subarnarekha river. With ongoing rainfall in Jharkhand, officials are concerned that more gates may need to be opened.
Since midnight, floodwaters have reached Rajghat, inundating areas in Jaleswar, Bhograi, Basta, and Baliapal blocks of Balasore district. At 10 this morning, the water level at Rajghat was 10.85 metres, above the danger mark of 10.36 metres. It may go up to 11.4 metres before receding, said Water Resources Department Chief Engineer Chandrasekhar Padhi.
Due to the escalating flood risk, the Balasore district administration convened an emergency meeting. District Collector Mayur Suryawanshi has instructed all BDOs, Tehsildars, and senior officials in north Balasore to monitor the situation and remain prepared for any emergency response.
Similarly, flood alert has been sounded in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts as a precautionary measure with the Baitarani River breaching the danger mark at multiple locations.
At Akhuapada (Bhadrak), the river was flowing at 18.61 metres at 10 am on Sunday, surpassing the danger mark of 18.33 metres. Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar–with some regions receiving 150–200 mm of rain in the past few days–has caused the rapid rise in water level.
However, there is no flood situation in other river systems in the state, said the Chief Engineer.
Padhi further stated that the water level in Hirakud reservoir is increasing due to 31.33 mm rain over the upper basin. “The water level of the dam stood at 621.65 ft against the full reservoir capacity of 630 ft. Currently, 1.6 lakh cusecs of water are being discharged through 8 gates of Hirakud. Another 4 gates have been opened to release the excess water,” he said.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall across the state may intensify later this week—particularly from August 25-27- with the likely formation of another low-pressure over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts.