Odisha SRC Asks District Collectors To Take Precautionary Steps Amid Flood Fear In Several Areas

Bhubaneswar: With heavy downpour triggered by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal continuing to batter Odisha, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu on Wednesday reviewed the situation and asked district collectors to remain alert.

While the SRC took stock of the overall situation in different districts, the Collectors of Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur were asked to remain in a state of readiness to face any eventuality due to the deep depression.

According to SRC’s office, Keonjhar has received average rainfall of 140.5 mm, Bhadrak 72.5 mm and Jajpur 79.6 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours.

Stating that river Baitarani has crossed the danger level at Anandpur and was flowing at 39.70 metre at noon today, the SRC in a letter to the three district Collectors said that the water level at Anandpur was 1.34 metre above the danger mark. As a result, Anandpur, Ghasipuraand Hatadihi blocks of Keonjhar may be affected, he said.

This apart, Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar and Tihidi blocks of Bhadrak district may also be affected, the SRC said, adding that Korei, Jajpur and Dasarathpur blocks of Jajpur district at the lower catchment of Baitarani may also be affected.

The SRC further instructed that all the field functionaries should be kept alert, while local fire and emergency services and ODRAF should be deployed at strategic locations. The overtopping roads and bridges should be prohibited for movement of vehicles and public, while the engineering personnel of Water Resources department may be asked to keep a watch on river embankments.

The Collectors were asked to take steps to shift people in low-lying areas to safe shelters and make arrangements for food, water and light.

The office of the SRC said the state has received an average rainfall of 83.8 mm during the last 24 hours. The highest rainfall of 390.6 mm was recorded in Boudh block in Boudh district, while four blocks have recorded rainfall of more than 300 mm.

Similarly, 17 blocks have recorded rainfall of more than 200 mm and 68 blocks have recorded rainfall between 100 mm and 200 mm.

The SRC reviewed the situation of Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Boudh, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Subarnapur and Sambalpur districts. The Collectors were asked to take adequate precautionary measures and keep all field-level functionaries at strategic locations prone to water-logging to meet any eventuality.

Adequate Anti Snake Venum must be available in DHH/CHCs/PHCs. The local Fire Service Teams and ULB authorities shall take steps in de-watering and clearance of uprooted trees if arises, notification read.

Collectors may decide closure of schools and anganwadi centres if required due to heavy rain, the office added.

Anticipating heavy precipitations during next two days, ODRAF teams are being sent to Keonjhar and Sambalpur, Rairakhol for any rescue and search-related duties. NDRF teams are being deployed in Bhadrak and Jajpur, it added.