Jajpur/Gania: With the Baitarani river flowing well over the danger level, flood threat looms large for villagers in Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak. The danger mark for Baitarini is 17.83 metres at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district. It is currently flowing at the 18.20m mark.
Thakurmunda recorded 24.8mm of rainfall Saturday while places like Champua (25.8mm), Sampatna (28.6mm), Keonjhar (25.00mm) and Akhuapada (35.6mm) also were hit hard by rains. However, it was Anandapur which registered the maximum amount of rainfall at 255.12mm. People are tense as at many places flood water has encroached high areas.
A similar situation has come up in Gania block under Burla division in Sambalpur. Here the water level of the Mahanadi river has increased significantly. Also people are apprehensive that water from the Hirakud Dam may be released due to heavy rains and then again floods will occur in this locality.
According to the readings available at the Gauge Station at Badamula, Mahanadi was flowing at 31.3 feet Saturday noon which rose to 32.6 feet at 3.00 pm. The danger mark stands at 35 feet.
The people living downstream are apprehensive. They said that if he rainfall doesn’t abate, floods are inevitable in Gania block.
Keeping all these development in mind the block administration is ready to help people if floods hit the block. Two ODRAF teams have been deployed for Gania block.
PNN
