Even as the State Government geared up its machinery to combat floods imminent in north Odisha, a flood-like situation was witnessed in Baleswar, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts on Tuesday.
In Baleswar, the fear of flash floods prevailed particularly in its northern part as the major rivers were in spates. The Subarnarekha and Jalka were flowing over the danger levels posing serious threats for Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar and Bhograi.
The water levels of Subarnarekha and Jalka were 11.01 metre at Rajghat and 6.03 metre at Mathani, respectively. Notably, the danger levels of the rivers are 10.36 and 5.5 metre, respectively.
Despite swelling of the Subarnarekha, officials forecasted that the water level would recede and would decrease to 10.96 metre by 12 midnight.
Water Resources Department sources said the rainfall in the upper catchment regions of the Subarnarekha has declined and the discharge of excess rainwater through the Galudi Dam was reduced following closure of three gates.
The department’s Executive Engineer Niranjan Mahalik said, “The excess rainwater while was discharged at the rate 4,500 cumec through 11 gates of Galudi barrage since Monday night, the flow is restricted to 3,100 cusec by closing three gates . Currently water is discharged through eight gates.
Sources said several patches of Jaleswar and Bhograi would witness floods when the excess water would reach the tail end of the river by Tuesday night .
The district administration claimed that the ground level officers were put on alert and were prepared to meet any eventualities with their contingency plans. One team of NDRF has been rushed to Baliapal.
At least five GPs of Baliapal including Asti, Kumbhari, Nikihira, Bishnupur and Jamkunda were affected due to flood water inundation. The road communication is severed at six different places in these blocks. However, no human habitations were marooned, said Baliapal BDO Minati Jagdeo.
The BDOs of Basta, Baliapal and Jaleswar claimed that there was no alarming situation in their respective areas and they were alert. Apprehending necessity of evacuation the district administration has kept power as well as country boats stand by at different blocks of north Baleswar. In Mayurbhanj , the scenario in Rasgovindpur block remained alarming. But the situations in most parts of the district showed improvement, because of the simple reason that the intensity of rains has lessened on Tuesday as compared to that on Monday.