The low pressure induced incessant rains during the last four days caused flash floods in major river systems of the State. A spate in the Baitarani river created havoc in Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts.
Apprehending the worst, the Chief Minister on Monday after reviewing the flood situation had asked all district Collectors, particularly of the vulnerable three district administrations, to take all precautionary steps to deal with the possible floods.
High flood in Baitarani was said to pass Anandapur in Keonjhar in Monday night. The river was flowing two meters above the danger level and hence, might inundate large areas of three districts.
Meanwhile, rain fury had taken toll of two lives in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar. The bodies identified that of Prasanna Behera (28) of Nuagan village and Kedara Behra (18) were swept away by strong currents in Gangua canal at Nuagan on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Sunday. They were recovered at Kukudaghai Ghat.
Due to the incessant rains, the rivers Hati in Kalahandi and Jalaka were flowing above the danger level and had flooded larges areas.
Flood waters of Hati river were flowing three feet above the bridge at Junagarah.
With all the rivers in north Odisha flowing close to their danger marks and showing a rising trend, the Chief Minister asked the district Collectors of Baleswar and Mayurbhanj to remain alert to handle the situation.
The ODRAF, NDRF and Fire personnel were pressed into service in Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts to undertake rescue and relief operations as two blocks under Keonjhar, including Hatadihi, Andnadpur and three blocks in Jajpur, including Dasarathpur, Korei, and Jajpur Sadar had been flooded due to the Batarani water.
The Chief Minister during the review meeting on Monday evening asked the Collectors to evacuate people from the low lying and marooned areas to safer places and provide them with free cooked food. The flood victims should be provided with emergency relief if necessary, Patnaik instructed.
He also asked the Irrigation Department to identify the vulnerable pointes along the river embankments and deploy mobile patrolling teams for protection. Besides, he also asked the Urban Development, Health and Rural Development Departments to ensure provision of portable drinking water to the affected people.
Meanwhile, the Met sources here said the Sunday’s low pressure area over north Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of the Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha had rapidly concentrated into a depression and lay centered about 50 km east of Baripada.
The system would move west-north-west wards during next 24 hours and under its impact rain and thundershower would occur at most places over Odisha during next 24 hours and decrease thereafter.
The Met also predicted that isolated extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur at a few places over interior Odisha and heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over coastal Odisha during next 24 hours.
Gusty surface wind blowing at 45 to 55 kmph and picking up a speed up to 65 kmph may prevail along and off the Odisha coast.