Bhubaneswar: Continuous heavy rainfall driven by a low-pressure system that intensified into a depression has caused major rivers in northern Odisha to swell past danger marks, inundating low-lying villages and triggering serious flood concerns across Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur districts.
Addressing the situation in major river basins on Friday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil stated that local administration and disaster response teams are on high alert due to rising water levels, warning of potential flooding in downstream areas. Water levels in the Baitarani river system have breached critical danger thresholds near Anandapur (40.16 m against a danger mark of 38.36 m) and Akhuapada (19.58 m against 18.33 m). Although levels are expected to recede in a few hours, the surge has already submerged portions of Jajpur and Bhadrak, with flooding expected to impact Baleshwar by this evening,” he told the presser.
Similarly, Subarnarekha river at Rajghat was flowing at 7.7 metres, below the danger mark of 10.36 metres. “Heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas of Jharkhand and subsequent reservoir discharges are expected to swell the river further by evening,” he noted.
The Depression over Gangetic West Bengal lies over Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and is expected to move west-northwestwards across Jharkhand and weaken into well mark low pressure area during next 24 hours.
The SRC informed that the flood situation has primarily affected around 45 to 50 gram panchayats across four northern districts —Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, and Baleshwar. “Around 3,000 people have already been evacuated to safe shelters and relief centres in these districts.”
He further stated that 17 rescue teams, including seven NDRF teams and ten ODRAF teams, have been deployed alongside local Fire Services personnel. “In Baleshwar district alone, four NDRF teams are operating on the ground, with additional units kept on standby to be dispatched immediately if the situation demands. District Collectors are present on the ground to personally supervise operations and coordinate relief.”
The SRC reassured that the Mahanadi river system remains normal with no major flood threat, as rainfall in the upper and lower basins has remained within normal limits.