Most roads of the Bagapatia Rehabilitation Colony where about 550 families of sea-erosion prone Satabhaya panchayat have been relocated are waterlogged due to incessant rains for the last three days; rainwater has entered houses in low lying areas of the colony making it difficult for people to venture out
Kendrapara: The people of sea-erosion prone Satabhaya panchayat, who were shifted to the Bagapatia Rehabilitation Colony, have been facing problems in linking up with the outside world as rain water has flooded their roads and entered their dwellings.
Sources said the roads in Bagapatia Rehabilitation Colony were far better earlier. But the situation worsened after the administration dumped earth in low lying areas and on roads after the Special Relief Commission (SRC) asked the district administration to fill up low lying areas and released Rs 4 crore from Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) during a visit to the colony last February.
The situation worsened due to the plying of earth-laden vehicles on the roads and the filling up of low lying areas just before the monsoon, residents said.
Most roads of the colony are waterlogged due to incessant rains for the last three days. Water has entered houses in low lying areas. People are facing lots of problems in coming out from their houses.
“Schoolchildren are having a difficult time as they have to wade through knee-deep water and mud,” said Niranjan Das, a resident of the colony. Rainwater has entered the houses of Dukhiram Dalai and Jagabandhu Dalai.
A pregnant woman, Jemarani Dalai, wife of Sisir Dalai, delivered a child, after facing a tough time going to hospital. She was carried in a sling for two km by her family to the main road June 24 night and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
Meanwhile, she and her newborn baby are taking shelter in the house of Krupasindhu Pradhan, a neighbour, as rainwater has entered her dwelling.
“We do not know how many more days we are going to remain marooned as the rain is likely to continue,” said Ramakanta Rout, another villager.
“If anybody falls ill and needs medical attention then only God can come to the person’s rescue,” said Kuntala Rout of Bagapatia.
Even a tube well installed in a low lying area in the rehabilitation colony is under water. As a result, people are facing problems in fetching drinking water.
When contacted, Collector Reghu G said he was aware about the problems of the people in Bagapatia Rehabilitation Colony. The administration is going to solve the road problem shortly, he added.
Around 550 families of Satabhaya panchayat in Rajnagar block have been relocated to the Bagapatia Rehabilitation Colony after facing constant sea erosion.
PNN
