Balasore, Sept 26: The flood situation in Balasore district worsened on Wednesday with three major rivers flowing above danger mark and inundating more areas.
Even four days after the deluge hit the coastal district 4.2 lakh people are still marooned while over 7 lakh people in 933 villages under 129 GPs have been affected in seven blocks – Sadar, Remuna, Nilagiri, Bahanaga, Soro, Khaira and Simulia of the district.
Four persons identified as Kalia Singh of Badadiha, Manas Mallick of Olanda Saragaon, Jagannath Das of Kantabania and Kabita Das of Bhaskarganj area have been killed in the flood. While Kabita died when wall collapsed on her, the rest three drowned.
Even though Flood-hit people in Basta, Baliapal, Bhogarai and Jaleswar blocks are finding it hard to cope up with the situation as the flash flood has distressed them for the fourth time within last two months, the district administration is yet to declare the areas flood hit.
“Last time the water level in the rivers were same as this time. While earlier it was declared deluge-hit, this time how the administration forget? We are here starving, but none to look after us,” alleged Biswambar Behera, a villager of Basta.
This time the floodwater of Budhabalanga has entered into Balasore town inundating low-lying areas in eight wards.
Entire north Balasore and Oupada and Khaira block are cut off since Sunday with floodwater flowing five feet above the connecting roads and Bankatira bridge near Tudigadia collapsed. Road communication to most of the parts of Sadar, Remuna and Nilagiri blocks also has been disrupted for third day.
Sources said, besides the floods in the Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Jalaka, Sono, Kansabansa and Gangahar rivers, water from Kala and Sunei dams has caused water inundation in Nilagiri and Remuna blocks.
“The dam gates however have been closed. But the incessant rain has kept the water level high. We hope the situation will remain grim for another two days as the forecast says more rain within next 24 hours,” said emergency officer B Behera.
Villagers in the affected villages however have alleged that no relief has reached them yet. The residents in the low-lying areas of Balasore town also have been deprived of polythene and food materials.
But the district administration has claimed to have taken early steps for rescue and relief operation.
“We have so far evacuated 38,473 people from the flood-hit Sadar and Remuna blocks. The people are being provided with cooked food through free kitchens,” told Balasore Collector A C Padhiary. “We have declared three-day relief and trying to reach the affected villages,” he added.
Odisha.in