Odisha CM takes stock of flood situation

Rising water level in rivers threatens four districts

The state government today discussed precautionary measures for possible flood situation in four districts as heavy rainfall in coastal and north Odisha pushed river water levels above danger mark.

“It is likely that there will be flood in river Baitarini by tonight and could affect three districts such as Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak. We have deployed ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team in these areas and are closely monitoring the situation,” said Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, special relief commissioner with the state government after attending a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik.

The Water Resources department has been instructed to send mobile patrolling units to take care of vulnerable points on river bridges and evacuate people residing in low lying areas, according to a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

In the meeting, Patnaik instructed the Rural Development and Health department to provide cooked food, drinking water and medicines to prevent water borne diseases. The Collectors were directed to provide relief immediately after receding of flood waters.

Apart from three north Odisha districts, Kalahandi district is threatened by imminent flood as major towns were water-trapped due to rising water level in Hati river. A district official said it was flash flood and the water is likely to recede by tomorrow.

By Monday morning, Anandpur and Nuapara received highest rainfall at 27 cm, followed by Nawrangpur and Balasore with 26 cm rainfall. The local weather office said, coastal Odisha would receive heavy rainfall in next 24 hours.

Monsoon data said, Odisha has received 55 per cent more than normal rainfall in the week ending July 16 compared to over 70 per cent deficit rainfall in the same week last month. The monsoon rainfall deficit has now narrowed down to 13 per cent from 50 per cent below normal by the end of last month.

The weather department said, another low pressure could cause heavy rainfall after July 25.

The low pressure area which was hovering around north periphery of the Bay of Bengal and the adjoining West Bengal and Bangladesh has become a depression and is likely to cause heavy rainfall towards June 25.