The flood situation following heavy rains in the last 72 hours caused by the deep depression continued to remain grim in the State.
Though the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Titli’s effect was less than forecast, incessant rains in its aftermath have left a trail of destruction in three southern districts of the State.
Ganjam district is the worst-affected by the floods with places including Bhanjanagar, Sorada, Dharakote, Aska, Purushottampur and Seragada still marooned. Airdropping of relief materials in these area is underway by two helicopters of the Indian Navy.
The three-member ministerial committee comprising Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty, Water Resources Minister Niranjan Pujari and Energy Minister Sushanta Singh on the day monitored rescue, relief and restoration operations in Ganjam.
The committee’s first meeting was held at Chhatrapur to decide on the measures to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
The situations in Gajapati and Rayagada districts also continued to be serious with many villages still marooned.
However, the situation in northern region of the State was alarming with fears of flood looming large. The Baitarani river was flowing at 18.03 metre against the danger mark of 17.83 metre near Akhuapada in Bhadrak district. Road communication on the Puruna Cuttack-Sambalpur route was affected as water was flowing five feet above the road near Madhapur in Athagarh of Cuttack district.
At least 13 villages under Badasahi block in Mayurbhanj district were marooned as the floodwater of the Budhabalanga river flowed three feet above the Patalipura bridge.
Budhabalanga was flowing at 8.22 metre against the danger mark of 8.13 metre at Barunighat in Baleswar inundating low-lying areas of Sadar block.
In Baleswar, the water level of the Kansabansa river touched the danger level at 7.5 metre at Soro while the water level of Budhabalanga crossed the danger mark at Baruni Ghat. Road communication between Salampur and Sonari was disrupted due to overflowing of floodwater at a height of about five feet.