Six districts face flood fury Staff Reporter

Kendrapara turns out to be worst hit

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Road communication hit, crops on vast areas damaged

Jamankira in Deogarh has highest rainfall of 19.2 cm

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BHUBANESWAR: After four days of heavy rains triggered by a depression, six districts of Orissa on Monday faced the flood fury with several villages in Balasore, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj district marooned by floodwaters.

Lakhs hit

Kendrapara district turned out to be the worst hit district with rainwater flowing downstream as several lakh people in different villages were affected by the flood.

According to Special Relief Commissioner, the villagers affected by current flood were close to nine lakhs.

It happened apparently due to the heavy rains in catchments of Brahmani and Baitarani rivers that passed through the district.

Hundreds acres of agricultural land were inundated by the floodwater.

People have fled to safer places.

Seaside regions such as Rajanagar, Patamundai and several villagers around district headquarter town Kendrapara had come under the grip of flood on Monday.

Similarly three lakh people in six blocks of Balasore district were affected by the floods that disrupted road communication and damaged crops in vast areas.

Floodwater also wrought havoc in Mayurbhanj district as its seven blocks were affected by the fresh round of flood.

Though intensity of rainfall had come down substantially during last 24 hours, water was still flowing at four river gauge sites such as Anandpur and Akhuapada on Baitarani river, Jamsholaghat on Subarnrekah and NH-5 Govindpur on Burhabalang river, the daily flood bulletin said.

Level rising

On Monday, water level was rising at as many as 13 river gauge sites.

Flood Control Room said Jamankira in Deogarh district had received highest rainfall of 19.2 cm and it was followed by Jamadarpalli in the same district with 16.8 cm. Rainfall was measured to be in the region of 7 cm to 15 cm.

Relief work

Mahanadi, Brahmani, Subarnarekha and Baitarani river systems have been receiving heavy rainwater for last four days.

Special Relief Commission control room said relief and rescue operation have been started in Balasore, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj district.

Officials were facing difficulty with road communications in several places damaged due to heavy rains.