With an alarming rise in the water level of Subarnarekha and Jalaka rivers, the flood situation in Baleswar district has turned grim.
Reports on Tuesday morning said that while the water level of the Subararekha crossed the danger mark at Rajghat, that of the Jalaka soared over the danger level at Mathani.
Till reports last came in, the Subarnarekha water level was flowing at a height of 10.38 metre as against the danger mark of 10.36 metre while the Jalaka was flowing at a height of 6.77 metre against the danger mark of 5.5 metre.
With heavy rains in upper catchments, the water level of Subarnarekha was expected to rise further. Reports said that due to the heavy rains in the Subarnarekha upper catchments, the authorities of Galudih barrage in Jharkhand have opened 11 sluice gates of the dam releasing 2.69 lakh cusecs of water.
Expecting high floods in the Subarnarekha, the Baleswar district administration has alerted the people residing near the river embankment and advised them to shift to safer places.
Meanwhile, road communication between Basta and Baliapal has been disrupted as the floodwaters were flowing at a height of about 4 feet in the Baharda, Mathani and Tejagala areas in the district.
As the floodwaters entered the low-lying areas, families shifted with their domestic animals to safer places.
At some places, people carried their bikes on tractors due to the overflowing of floodwaters on roads.
District Collector Pramod Das held an emergency meeting of officials over the situation. He said that NDRF and ODRAF teams have been sent to Jaleswar, Balipal and Bhograi besides power and country boats being positioned to meet evacuation requirements.
“Officials have been directed to evacuate people in case of emergency to safer places. Essential items, including lifesaving drugs, have been placed to meet the demand of the situation,” said the Collector.