Odisha: Over 1 lakh shifted to safety amid fears of fresh floods

BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE: With the sceptre of fresh floods looming large, the Odisha government on Sunday launched an evacuation drive to shift over one lakh people from low-lying areas in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, even as water levels in Subarnrekha, and Budhabalanga, crossed the danger mark at several places.

Officials said the flood situation in north Odisha is likely to worsen with six lakh cusecs of water being released through Galudihi barrage in Jharkhand, now reeling under heavy rains and flooding.

Odisha is already facing the impact of a moderate flood in the Mahanadi river system, following incessant rainfall, which has affected above 7 lakh people. Nearly 5 lakh people are still marooned in 763 villages.

The state government on Sunday designated Balasore district collector PK Jena as the special relief officer to tackle the impending emergency. Since the current flood could be bigger than that of 2008 flood, the government deployed 58 rescue teams, including NDRF, ODRAF and fire services in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, said Jena.

The adjoining districts of Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak are also on alert,” Balasore collector Jena added.

A few places in Mayurbhanj and four blocks of Balasore, including Baliapal, Bhograi, Jaleswar and Basta will be severely affected in a high-intensity flood, officials warned.

“The district administration has deployed one officer each in clusters of gram panchayats and 5 NDRF, 4 ODRAF, 12 fire services teams have been deployed in the district to meet the exigency,” said Jena.

With Subarnarekha, Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers already in spate, several villages in Mayurbhanj and Balasore district have been inundated. Vehicular communication has also been disrupted as several approaching roads in the locality are under water.

“So far around 30,000 people have already been evacuated. The administration has made arrangements at 300 places at schools and different cyclone shelters for accommodation of the affected people,” said Balasore collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde.

“Free kitchen at all places has been started. We have targeted to evacuate around 1.2 lakh people, if needed more people will be evacuated. The administration is working to ensure zero damage to lives and properties,” he added.

Besides, Panchayati Raj functionaries and women self-help group members are also involved in evacuation of people to safer places. According to the government, rain and flood-related incidents have so far claimed eight lives.