The flash flood in river Baitarani and its tributaries caused havoc in Jajpur district on Tuesday. It affected large areas of riverside villages under Jajpur, Korei and Dasarathpur blocks.
Incessant rains and flash flood in the rivers marooned at least 1.5 lakh people in the district. The flood affected villages had to depend on rickety country boats to reach the mainland.The river Budha, a tributary of Baitarani, breached at Trilochanpur village under Jajpur block for which about 22 villages were marooned.
The water level in the river Baitarani and other rivers was rising on Tuesday for which at least 65 riverside villages were affected. large areas of Dasarathpur block were also under flood water. Inhabitants in the flood-affected villages such as Katikata, Das arathpur, Malikapur, Sisua, Mangalpur, Kasapa, Dudaraanta, Chanchina, Kanikapada, Tarapada, Gipalpur, Nizampur, Duttapur, Khannagar, Kaya, Kamaradiha and other Gram Panchayats were under distress as they faced flood for the second time after two weeks.
The flood water also affected the agricultural fields in many villages. “The release of water from the Hirakud dam and incessant rain in the catchment areas caused the rivers Bramahani, Baitarani and their tributaries to swell further inundating the riverside villages of the district and its adjoining areas.
Around 1.30 lakh people were affected in the flood in Jajpur, Dasarathpur and Korei blocks. We provided free kitchens to 10,000 flood affected villagers. Rescue teams were pressed into service,” said district Collector Anil Kumar Samal.People living in low lying areas along the banks of the rivers in Badachana, Bari, Jajpur and Dharmasala blocks were asked to move to safer locations. An emergency meeting was held to review the flood situation and relief and rescue operation in Jajpur, informed the Collector.