Due to heavy discharge of water from Jharkhand and slow release of water to the sea because of the ensuing full moon, the flood situation in Baleswar district is expected to propel for three to four days.
Around 184 gram panchayats comprising 930 villages inhabited by more than seven lakh people were affected in the district in the flood, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro in a review meeting held at the Secretariat here on Tuesday.
Nearly 68,000 people were evacuated to safe places from the flood-affected areas. In the first phase of the flood, the blocks like Bhogarai, Jaleswar, Basta, Dhamanagar, Remuna, Baleswar sadar and Bhandaripokhari were inundated. It was expected that Chandabali would get inundated because of slow release of water to sea and nearness of the place to the sea.
The flood situation arose in five districts because of heavy rainfall during cyclone and heavy downpour in upper catchment of the Budhabalnaga, Baitarani and Subarnarekha rivers. The water was gradually receding back in Budhabalanga and Baitarani and it was expected that situation would further improve by Tuesday evening.
The relief teams along with ODRAF, NDRF, Army and Naval teams were deployed in relief and restoration operation. Patro and Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra directed the relief and rescue teams to reach each and every marooned village and provide adequate relief, medicine and all other necessary assistance. Sufficient number of power boats had been deployed in the operation.
Air dropping had been stopped as road and boat communication had been established to all the affected areas, the Minister added.
The Minister directed to open up all village and Panchayat roads. He also directed the Health Department to organise mobile health units and health camps in the affected areas.
The firsthand information available showed that the recent disaster of both the cyclone and flood had affected 148 blocks, 2009 GPs, 16,487 villages and 43 urban local bodies. Around 1,19,03,654 people had been affected and crop loss had taken place in around 6,25,408 hectares. Till now 3,33,070 dwelling houses had been reportedly damaged. The cattle causality reported by now stood at 313 large animals, 419 small animals and 6,240 birds.
A total number of 10,95,794 persons had been evacuated to safe places. Out of this 9,83,553 persons were taken to safe shelter before cyclone and 1,12,241 before flood, said the officials.