Baleshwar/Nayagada: More than 30 villages in Baleshwar’s Bhograi block remained waterlogged Wednesday, while three days of incessant rain inundated agricultural fields in Nayagada, damaging paddy, vegetables and other crops and adding to the woes of residents and farmers, sources said.
In Bhograi, more than 30 villages under 10 gram panchayats continued to remain inundated despite a gradual fall in river levels. Roads in Kachuadi, Siaruib, Kulida, Kusuda, Gabagaon, Nachinda and Putina remained submerged under about 3 feet of water, disrupting movement in the affected areas, the sources added.
In Nayagada, rainwater inundated agricultural land in several areas, including Manitri village under Karbar gram panchayat in Bhapur block damaging crops. While some crops were damaged, others were reportedly washed away by strong water currents, leaving farmers concerned about the extent of their losses. Floodwater also entered Biridihi village in Khandapada block, affecting paddy and other crops, the sources informed.
Farmers said the situation was particularly worrying as the paddy crop was at the grain-filling stage when the fields were inundated.
The crop damage has raised concerns over farmers’ ability to repay loans and arrange funds for the next cultivation season. Farmers have sought an immediate assessment of the losses and government assistance to compensate for crop damage and help them resume cultivation in the next season.
