Even as a Central team is scheduled to visit the flood-hit Baleswar along with some other severely affected districts on Monday to take stock of the losses, the affected people of Baleswar hardly find any respite from the ordeal they have been going through since past two weeks.
The district witnessed a second spell of flash flood on Friday after all the rivers of the district including Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalka swelled with fresh low depression-induced rains. The district administration was on its toes to meet the crisis as it had to prepare a detailed report on the losses and damages caused due to the calamity for the Central team, besides handling the rescue and relief operations.
While Budhabalanga showed the receding trend on Sunday, Subarnarekha and Jalka were still above the danger level. As a result, fear gripped people of Jaleswar, Bhograi, Basta and Baliapal. Several blocks in north Baleswar were waterlogged and road communication was totally disrupted.
The road communication between Basta and Baliapal was severed after floodwater submerged the road near Pejagola. Despite falling of water level in Budhabalanga, majority of areas under Sadar, Remuna and Nilgiri were inundated.
Central range RDC Dr Arabinda Padhi, who is camping here to oversee the relief and rehabilitation works, said, “The situation in the district as a whole is improving though Subarnarekha and Jalka rivers are above the danger level. Budhabalanga swelled as excess water from dams in Kala and Sunei was released into it. Subarnarekha also received water from Chandeli dam in the up-stream causing the spate. We are keeping a close vigil on the situation and concerned BDOs and tehsildars in north Baleswar have been asked to remain alert.”
Meanwhile, the role of Sadar BDO labanyanidhi Jena has come under scanner following complaints that he kept relief materials sent by the Red Cross Society under his custody for a week. “The relief materials including dry foods, baby foods and tents were sent on October 19 for the calamity affected people of Baleswar. While the BDO received the materials on October 21, he kept the items under his custody till today,” it was alleged.
Asked, Jena however said, “The relief materials were received around 1 am on October 21. As there was no place to keep these materials, it was kept under my custody. I consulted with the members of the Red Cross Society and there was no consensus among them on where to send these stuff. Therefore, the relief materials were lying with me. Finally today, I handed over the materials to the district emergency officer.”