Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s flood crisis deepened this week as the Baitarani, Salandi and Jalaka rivers surged well above their danger levels following days of relentless monsoon rain, officials said. According to the Water Resources Department, the Baitarani was flowing at 20.40 metres at Akhuapada anicut in Bhadrak district, against a danger mark of 18.33 metres.
A 100-foot embankment breach at Mahapatra Sahi in Jayantara village, Jajpur district, reportedly left nearly 100 families marooned, with the district administration shifting residents to a relief shelter at Swami Vivekananda High School, officials said. Over a hundred villages across Jajpur, Binjharpur and Dasarathpur blocks have been affected, with roads submerged and several settlements cut off.
State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said three people, including a fire service worker, died in Keonjhar district, while more than two lakh people were affected statewide. Bargarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Gajapati districts also reported flooding. Officials said around 30,000 people have been evacuated to relief centres, where cooked food is being provided.
The India Meteorological Department has issued Red alerts for several north Odisha districts, warning of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall.