The flood situation in north Baleswar is likely to worsen as the river Subarnarekha, flowing much above the danger level, was swelling with discharge of excess rainwater into it through Galudi dam of Jharkhand.
The officials of Baliapal, Basta, Bhograi and Jaleswar are on high alert while one each of NDRF and ODRAF was deployed in Baliapal and Bhograi to meet any eventualities.
According information, as many as around 150 villages of 30 panchayats involving a population of more than 1.5 lakh I the two blocks were affected.
The river Subarnarekha was recorded flowing at 11.25 metre at Rajghat at 3 pm against 10.36 danger level with a rising trend. The water level may touch 11.5 metre or go beyond if the water discharge from the barrage continued, said sources.
District Emergency Officer Dinesh Nayak said the situation was closely monitored by the officials and no evacuation was undertaken as the situation was under control.
Executive Engineer, Irrigation, Niranjan Mahalik said, “The water which was discharged at the rate of 4,500 cumec through 8 gates of Galudi barrage into Subarnarekha reduced to 3,100 cumec with the lowering of heights of gates. The water level may go up to 11.40 metre with this rate of discharge. The effect of flood while was experienced in Jaleswar and Baliapal, Bhograi being at end may witness water inundation in the night.”
Sources informed while road communication breached at several pockets in north Baleswar due to running of flood water, a large area of agriculture fields was submerged in flood water. “26 villages under seven GPs are affected. In certain seaside villages, the water has gushed into human habitation. No evacuation is necessitated so far,” observed Baliapal BDO Minati Jagdeo.
Bhograi BDO Chittaranjan Sethi informed that at least 25 villages under six GPs, mainly of Kharidpipal, Ksuda , Gabagao and Manu Nagar, were hit by floods. In Jaleswar, water logging and communication breaches were witnessed in several low lying pockets, mainly in Paschimbad ,Baigangadia, Gadasahi-Baliapal and Jhadpipal.
“The situation is not alarming. In the low-lying areas, the flood water has entered and road communication disrupted owing to running of water on roads,” informed Jaleswar BDO Ramchandra Kisku.