Bhograi: As rain in upper reaches of Subarnarekha in Jharkhand has subsided and water discharge from Galudihi dam was checked, there has been a slight improvement in the flood situation in Bhogarai and Baliapal areas of Balasore Saturday.
However, miseries of people marooned in flood-hit areas have reportedly multiplied due to the lack of safe drinking water, relief material and water in their houses.
Water level in Subarnarekha has reduced at Rajghat and flows below the danger mark at 10. 36 ft from Friday night. Reports said 11,000 cusec of water was released from Galudihi dam to the river.
Many parts of north Balasore have been reeling under floods with over a lakh of people still marooned in 60 villages under Bhogarai block and 30 villages under Baliapal block.
Communication to several villages such as Hudapal, Rasalpur, Manunagar, Kulha under Bhogarai block have remained cut off from the rest of the world. At some riparian pockets, embankments have sunk, triggering fear of breaches, reports said.
The flood situation was still grim at Aruhabruti-1, Kharidpipal, Gabagan, Kusada, Putina and Nachinda under Bhogarai block. The houses of scores of people have collapsed. They have been going through a lot of miseries for lack of shelter. They have either taken shelter at others’ houses or at safer places.
Paddy and vegetable cultivation in both the blocks have been completely damaged by floodwaters. Life has been miserable for people living in low-lying areas in Bhogarai as the floodwaters have not receded yet.
Meanwhile higher education minister Ananta Das visited several flood-hit areas under both the blocks. Das along with MP Rabindra Jena, tehsildar Ramchandra Kisku, BDO Diptiranjan Sethi, block chairperson Manjurani Behera and several other block officials took stock of the situation.
The flood-hit people at various places told the MLA and MP that they have not yet been received any help in healthcare and safe drinking water. It was learnt that there has been no access to many villages as many roads are under floodwaters.
Several roads including Pantei-Bhusabdeswar, Gochhida Sluice-Dahmunda, Nilapur-Gabagaon, Chitei-Kusuda, Daruha-Putina, Benuda-Kuliha, Pirachhak-Kusuda, Bhuabandh-Madhupur, Bhuabandh-Kulinda, Mahagaba-Priyabag and Kamardha-Uluda were submerged under floodwaters. PNN