TNN | Aug 22, 2013, 06.08 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: Three days of incessant rain has triggered flash flood in Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Baitarani rivers in north Odisha, forcing the government to ask collectors to immediately evacuate affected people and initiate relief operations.
The government also directed all officials connected with flood management to be in position. The districts alerted under the circumstances include Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur. Reports reaching here said by evening Budhabalanga and Baitarani were rising at several places, while Subarnarekha though reported steady was flowing above the danger level (49.15) at 52.08 at Jamsolaghat. The flash flood situation was due to heavy rain received in north Odisha region and adjoining areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal, a media release from the office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) here said.
The report said nearly 30,000 people in 74 villages under 4 blocks of Badasahi, Rasgobindpur and Morada and 6 wards of Baripada municipality had been affected by heavy rain and flood. About 360 persons had been evacuated from Baripada town area and sheltered in school buildings at Madhuban and Deulasahi. Similarly in Morada block about 600 persons had been evacuated. The evacuated people had been given dry food, sugar and rice.
In Balasore about 74 villages had been affected by the current flood and heavy rain. The SRC office in view of the rising water level in Subarnarekha apprehended flooding of more areas. The government meanwhile has deployed ODRAF units with power boats and fire service units at Balasore, Basta and Jaleswar areas for taking up possible rescue and evacuation operation.