Balasore: Incessant rains caused by low pressure have triggered possibility of floods in many areas of this district, even as the water level in river Jalaka is rapidly rising. The river reportedly flowed above the danger mark at Mathani panchayat by 2pm Thursday.
Meanwhile, the administration is geared up to deal with the possible flood situation in the district.
Water level in river Subarnarekha is also rising. The river flowed at 6.75 metres at Rajghat, which has added to the worry of the administration.
The administration Thursday called an emergency meeting. All the BDOs, tehsildars, civil supplies officials and officials of the water resources department attended the meeting.
Collector Pramod Kumar Das directed the BDOs and tehsildars to expedite relief work, as the flood situation is likely to become grim in Jaleswar, Bastsa, Baliapal and Bhograi blocks. An NDRF team was sent to Jaleswar from the district headquarters.
Keeping in view the possible flood situation in many parts of the district, the administration has kept ready 32 boats, 5,845 polythene rolls, 89,992 litres of kerosene, 74 quintals of flattened rice and 93,102 quintals of rice, said district emergency officer Dinesh Kumar Nayak. ODRAF teams have been alerted while anti-venom injections have been adequately stocked at the health centres.
Even as the administration is bracing to deal with any kind of eventuality, people are panicked in riparian pockets of Jaleswar, Basta, Bhograi and Baliapal.
While Chhattisgarh government is playing politics over Mahanadi, the BJP-led government in Jharkhand has unleashed flood trouble for Orissa through Subarnarekha.
According to reports from the water resources department, following heavy rain in the upper catchment areas of Subarnarekha, Jharkhand released 2.85 lakh cusec of water by Tuesday midnight from Galudihi dam through 12 gates without alerting the Orissa government.
The department said there was possibility of heavy floods in Subarnarekha while the water level in Budhabalanga is on the rise. River Jalaka is flowing above the danger mark. The water level in the river was 5.62 metre at 8 am Thursday. But by 11 am, it rose up to 5.68 metre.
Officials of the drainage department said as rain has subsided, water level in Jalaka could go down. However, people of riparian villages like Laxmanpada, Shibagadia, Sanakhudi, Mathani and Pegarpada, Bharda and Dhalsahi are panicked over emerging flood situation.
Basta block development
officer Dharmananda Behera said the administration is ready to tackle the situation. PNN