Aradi: A 10-ft stretch of an embankment along the river Baitarani caved in again Saturday near Sathibankuda under Chandbali block in Bhadrak triggering panic among locals. A stretch of 100-ft of the embankment had collapsed five days ago. After this newspaper reported it, the administration repaired it with eight truckloads of sand. Locals said, the sand drained down in the crack due to rains.
It was leant that apprehending collapse of the embankment, the irrigation department had sent police and placed sand-filled sacks.
Apart from a 100-ft stretch having sunk, the embankment has developed crack for about 200 metres. Locals said the embankment weakened and caved in due to rampant sand lifting. Running of sand –laden tractors was another reason for the problem.
Orissa POST and Oriya daily Dharitri had carried a report December 3 that the embankment has developed a long crack. Locals had urged the tehsildar and officials of the irrigation department to stop movement of heavy vehicles on the embankment. The tehsildar had visited the spot and imposed restrictions on vehicular movement.
Now, after further collapse of the embankment, people were panicked in Sathibankuda, Amrutamanohi, Bodak, Olaga, Sundarpur, Kuleipada, Champasahi, Paradia, Nandapur, Bartal, Bankamuhan, Santara, Aradi, and Muan and expected more trouble due to heavy rains as predicted under the influence of the low-pressure.
They demanded before the irrigation department for immediate repair of the collapsing embankment. PNN