Bhubaneswar: As the depression left a trail of destruction in Odisha, more than 73,000 people across ten districts of the state were badly affected by heavy rain triggered by the weather system.
The information was revealed after Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari conducted a review of the rain and flood situation on Saturday.
Officials said districts such as Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nayagada, Kandhamala and Balangir.
Reports received from different districts showed that as many as 73,085 people have been affected in 80 blocks, covering 325 gram panchayats and 1,071 villages in these districts. Intense rain also affected 49 wards in ten urban areas. Sixteen villages have been reported to be waterlogged, while around 4,480 hectares of cropland have been affected.
Meanwhile, the state government started shifting people in low-lying areas to safety as all rivers in the state have swelled due to heavy rainfall over the past few days, and the Hirakud Dam has opened 16 gates to release excess water into the Mahanadi.
Flash floods have been reported from Baleshwaar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kendujhar and Jagatsinghpur districts.
In Baleshwar alone, 14,660 people in 91 villages were affected as rivers flowing in spate inundated vast swathes of land, officials said, adding that 3,268 people have been removed from these areas.
Areas such as Basta, Baliapal, Bhograi and Jaleswar, have been severely affected due to rising water levels in the Subarnarekha and Jalaka rivers.
The water level in the Budhabalanga is expected to reach 8.9 metres by 9 pm, according to the assessment. As many as 31 gates of the Anandapur barrage have been opened.
The flood situation at Akhuapada is expected to improve from Saturday morning, while the Salandi water level at Rajghat may recede after Saturday morning.
With the opening of more gates of the Hirakud dam, the water flow at Mundali in Kataka is expected to reach around six lakh cusecs by midnight, officials said.
