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 situation arose in five districts due 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.