Bhograi: Heavy rainfall in upstream of Subarnarekha river since the last two days, under the impact of cyclone Yaas, has led to a flood-like situation in the river system.
The flood situation occurred after the surplus water from various water bodies in the upstream of the river was released into Subarnarekha.
Reports said that the opening of 18 gates of Galudihi barrage in Jharkhand to release water led to a flood situation in the river. The barrage is reportedly releasing 3 lakh cusecs of water into the river every minute.
The Irrigation department fears that further rise in water level might result in floods in Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta and Jaleswar blocks of Balasore district.
The district as well as the local administration has used public address system to ask people living in low-lying areas in Bhograi and Baliapal to shift to their nearest cyclone centres.
The river was flowing above the danger at 10.36-metre as against danger mark of 9.45-metre at Rajghat. It is apprehended that the water level might rise further at night.
The rise in floodwater level in the river has sparked fear of floodwaters inundating the riparian villages as the river embankments were been found to be weak at various places.
The Irrigation department is working on wartime footing to repair six broken sluice gates of the river at Bhograi. The water-level in the upstream of Subarnarekha at Jamshola Ghat in West Bengal-Odisha border touched the danger-mark at around 9 pm Thursday.
The water level touched 50.88 metres at Jamosalaghat against the danger level of 49.16-metre Thursday night, said reports.
Meanwhile, state Food Supplies Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain and district planning board chairman-cum-Bhograi MLA Ananta Das visited the areas and directed the BDO and tehsildar to prepare a report on the losses caused by the cyclone Yaas in 25 villages under eight panchayats of Bhograi block and submit it at the earliest.
However, as the inflow of water has decreased in the upstream of Subarnarekha river since the last three hours, the water-level is gradually receding there. Similarly, after the floodwater reaches the state, it will remain for some hours and gradually recede.
On the other hand, Baitarani river also witnessed a surge due to cyclone-induced heavy rains in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts. The water-level in the river had touched the danger level at Anandpur in Keonjhar Thursday.
It is feared that the water level will increase further in the downstream near Akhuapada. But the level in the upstream will decrease gradually after a little some increase.
“We are patrolling the site and are alert to face any eventuality,” said Rohit Sethy, chief engineer (construction), Water Resources department. He added that there is no such major risk as the water will recede gradually.
People living in the lower catchment of Baitarani in Jajpur district are also in the grip of fear due to steady increase in water level downstream.
The administration has advised the people to shift to safer places before the situation worsens further.
PNN
