Even as the water levels in major rivers of north Odisha were receding on Wednesday, the Special Relief Commissioner warned that the risks of floods still remained.
In Keonjhar district, 10 villages of Hatadihi block on the bank of Baitarani river have been inundated with flood water after incessant rainfall since last four days. Samana, Habaleswar, Ayatpur and Ambon panchayat have been the worst affected. Roads connecting Raghabpur, Nuagaon, Samana, Kadambadihi, Champundiha , Agiria, Gobindpur are submerged disrupting vehicular communication.
The water level in Baitarani touched danger level since Tuesday. Seven villages of Saladei panchayat and two villages of Bato panchayat under Anandpur block are cut off from other areas due to waterlogging.
Besides the river bank areas, waterlogging on the streets of Barbil and Keonjhar town has put the people in great inconvenience. A recently built irrigation check dam in Raigodi village under Champua block is reported to have been washed away in rain water damaging at least 10 acre of agriculture land. Also, some mud houses in Tikarpada, Narsingpur village and other villages of Banspal and Sadar block has been damaged in the current rain and storm.
Power cuts in most of the rural areas since the beginning of the monsoon has added to the misery of common man in Keonjhar district. The District Collector, local MlA and Minister Badri Narayan Patra visited the flood-affected areas in Anandpur sub-division to take stock of the situation on Tuesday .Meanwhile, the water level of Subarnarekha river has receded at Rajghat in Baleswar district and Baitarani river at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, sources said. Meanwhile, the Hirakud Dam authorities have closed two sluice gates on Wednesday releasing water through eight gates. However, the Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said the flood situation continues to pose threat in the State as water level in Baitarani river is still above the danger mark at several places.