Panic gripped the riverside villagers in Kendrapada district as the State Government sounded alert to the district administration following possible flood threat in the Mahanadi river system.
Meanwhile, floodwater in the rivers of the Mahanadi system like luna, Karandia, Paika and Chitrotpala are swelling and already flowing over the danger levels at all the places in the district.The district administration has evacuated 120 persons of Hurasahi in Garadpur block as they were marooned due to the floods in river luna.
A population of about 1,000 along with their livestock at Ratanpur and upper Batira village were marooned as the floodwaters of Paika entered into the villages.The situation is feared to be grimmer as it is expected that within a day or two more waters would flow in the river.The villagers alleged that the district administration has not reached them to provide relief materials.
Similarly, the people of Karandiapatana, Diha Balarampur, Jalapak and Salar Jalapak are marooned since Monday night as waters of luna entered into their villages after overtopping the embankments. However, the District Emergency Office sources said the situation is not alarming as yet.NDRF personnel have been deployed in Marshaghai, Garadpur and Mahakalpada with their five mechanised boats whereas the district administration has deployed12 country and power boats.
District Collector Pramod Kumar Das informed that the situation is under control. “I have asked the SRC to provide two ODRAF units to the district,” he said.