Bhubaneswar: The flood situation across Odisha has worsened on Tuesday with major rivers breaching at several places, leading to inundation of the areas.
The areas situated in Mahanadi river system are the worst affected as its water level has been constantly rising for the last few days. While depression induced heavy rain in upper catchment areas of Mahanadi has contributed to swelling of the river, unannounced release of excess water from dam and barrages in Chhattisgarh has added to the pressure on Hirakud dam reservoir.
The water level of the reservoir went up to 626.08 ft at noon on the day. While the inflow of floodwater to the reservoir was 7,88,652 cusec, the outflow was 4,34,008 cusec. The Hirakud dam authorities had closed 8 of 34 sluice gates opened earlier.
[Watch] Flood Situation Worsens As Major Rivers Breach In Odisha – YouTube
Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena on Monday said 8 gates of the dam were closed due to technical reasons. The water level at Mundali barrage went up to 97.30 ft while the outflow was 11,60,900 cusec.
The floodwater has caused a massive breach of around 70 ft on Mahanadi embankment at Jaysankhapur in Kujang block of Jagatsinghpur triggering panic in the region.
Due to flood in Mahanadi, water from Rajua and Daya rivers has entered several villages in Narangarh and Orabarsingh panchayats of Khurda district. While Cuttack-Banki road has been submerged, water was flowing at 2 feet on Kaimundi-Pathapur road snapping the communication.
Singhanath shrine in Badamba block of Cuttack district was inundated as 2-ft floodwater had entered its premises. Water level of Debi river at Dalei Ghai was 58.6 ft against the danger level of 57 ft.
In Puri district, floodwater made a 5-ft breach in Makara river near Kaudiapur and 20-ft breach near Kaudaipur under Kanas block. Floodwater from Kushabhadra river has entered several villages in Nagapaur, Badatara and Tarakora panchayats under Gop block of the district.
Kendrapada, which is prone to floods every year, bore the brunt this year also. With Karandia river overflowing its banks, Balarampur in Marshaghai block and Hurasahi, Sisua, Sikilo in Garadpur block have been inundated.
Similarly, Karandia river has breached at places in 2 blocks. Several villages were marooned as Balarampur gheri embankment breached, while Dhiabalarampur village has been totallly cut off from rest of the region.
In Jajpur, the 15-ft breach in Baitarani’s branch river Kani has widened to 7o ft at Brahmacharipatna under Dasarathpur block overnight. More than 100 villages under 15 panchayats are under water.
Due to flood in Mahanadi, villages in several blocks of Angul have been waterlogged. Tikarpada panchayat in Satkosia sanctuary was the worst affected. Majhipada, Gaindi, Ghatasahi and Behera Sahi villages have been inundated.
The district administration has opened a relief camp at Ghatasahi and was providing cooked food to the affected people.
In Bhadrak district, Baitarani has crossed the danger mark at Akhuapada. It was flowing at 18.75 metre against the danger mark of 17.83 metre. As a result, many areas in Dhamanagar and Bhandaripokhari have been flooded.
The floodwater has entered through Mallisahara escape under Anandpur panchayat and submerged several villages. Besides Baitarani, Reb and Kapali rivers flowing along Dhamnagar have also been flooded.
In western Odisha, the low-lying areas several districts including Sambalpur, Sonepur, Bargarh and Balangir have been flooded. Particularly the areas along the downstream of Mahanadi are the worst affected. Besides, overflowing Ib river has flooded several places in Jharsuguda and Brajrajnagar. While the floodwater has entered Koilighoghar temple in Jharsuguda, another temple in Brajrajnagar was submerged on Monday.
