Odisha: Another 5 blocks of Kalahandi, one of Koraput affected by floods

Another six blocks in two districts of western and southern Odisha have been affected by floods triggered by recent heavy rain, officials said on Monday.

Several villages in five blocks of Kalahandi district (Thuamul Rampur, Jayapatana, Kalampur, Koksara and Junagada) and one block in Koraput district (Kotpad) remained marooned by the deluge, they said.

With this, 21 blocks in the six districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Kalahandi and Koraput are affected by the floods.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state has not witnessed such floods in nearly 40-50 years.

All most all major rivers are in a spate, causing floods in northern, southern, coastal and western regions of Odisha, he said.

As the rainfall intensity has come down, the situation has started improving in northern and coastal areas, Pujari said, adding that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a Rs 1,000 crore package for flood-affected people.

Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief Dilip Rout said that Baitarani River has caused floods in the maximum expanse of area.

Several riverside villages in Bari and Binjharpur areas in Jajpur and Aul in Kendrapara district have been the worst affected, he said.

Subarnarekha, Brahmani and Salandi Rivers were also in a spate.

If there is a break in rainfall in the next two to three days, water levels in downstream areas are expected to gradually decline, he said.

The state government, in a statement, said that assistance is being provided to affected people through relief camps in the districts.

A total of 15 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 44 teams from the Fire and Emergency Services have been deployed in the affected areas, officials said.

For the management of relief camps and other emergency response activities, a total of Rs 170.30 crore has been released in phases from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). In addition, a total of 1,562.81 metric tonnes of cattle feed has been supplied to the affected districts, they said.

In the last 24 hours, the state recorded an average rainfall of 32.9 mm. From August 1 to August 24, the state received cumulative rainfall of 327.0 mm, which is 18.6 per cent above the normal rainfall of 275.6 mm.

Similarly, cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 24 stood at 1,083.2 mm, which is 32.1 per cent above normal, the officials said.

Baitarani River at Akhuapada and Jalaka River at Mathani were flowing slightly above the warning level on Monday morning.

The state government has asked the administrations of flood-affected districts to maintain a close vigil on possible localised water-logging, inundation of low-lying areas, closure of underpasses in urban areas, damage to kutcha roads and vulnerable structures, landslides and damage to orchards and standing crops.

The state government has asked the administrations to remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality and safeguard the lives and property of the people.