Heavy rainfall in the upper catchments of the Baitarani and Budhabalanga rivers created a flood-like situation in north Odisha districts, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur on Tuesday.
Due to heavy flow of water in the river, Anandpur of Keonjhar, Dhamnagar of Bhadrak and some areas of Jajpur district were affected. The river was flowing above the danger level near Akhuapada (17.87 metre) and Anandpur (38.360metre). Communication between Ghatagaon and Harichandanpur was hit due to swelling of the river.
Water Resources Secretary Pradip Jena said the department has taken steps to tackle the situation. The district Collectors were directed to remain alert, he added.
Due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha rivers, the people of low-lying areas were told to remain alert to meet the situation. Tiring (234.4mm) and Rairangpur (211.6mm) received heavy rainfall, while Akhuapada and Anandpur got 144mm and 106mm rainfall on the day.
The Rengali dam authorities said they would release the season’s first floodwater as the Baitarani received heavy flow of water. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its evening bulletin said there would be heavy rainfall in Odisha over the next three days.
Due to another depression over northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha during the next 48 hours, the IMD said.