Balasore: Large parts of Balasore and Bhadrak districts remained inundated on Wednesday after incessant rain triggered by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal pushed Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Baitarani rivers above danger levels, forcing authorities to evacuate tens of thousands from flood-hit villages.The situation in Balasore worsened after Budhabalanga crossed its danger mark, flooding low-lying areas in Balasore Sadar and Remuna blocks and several wards of Balasore municipality. Road connectivity was hit, while power and telecom services remained disrupted in many pockets. Budhabalanga was flowing at around 8.30 metres at Gobindpur against the danger level of 8.13 m. Jalaka also crossed the danger mark, flowing at 6.74 m against the danger level of 5.50 m at Mathani in Basta block.Balasore collector Mayur Suryawanshi said more than 30,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable villages, with nearly 13,000 sheltering in temporary relief centres, including cyclone shelters and schools. Dry food, cooked meals and essential relief materials are being distributed in urban and rural areas.More than 150 gram panchayats have been affected in the district. Suryawanshi said water levels in major rivers have started receding and are expected to fall below danger marks by midnight. Two teams, each of the NDRF and ODRAF, along with fire services personnel, have been deployed, and senior district officials have been stationed in the worst-affected areas.Residents of riverside villages described floodwaters invading homes. Bhajamana Sahu of Baincha village said water entered the village on Tuesday evening and kept rising overnight. He said people from low-lying areas were shifted to safer places by NDRF and ODRAF teams, thatched houses were damaged and hundreds of acres of standing crops were destroyed.Officials attributed the sudden rise in Budhabalanga to heavy inflow from the Similipal catchment and increased discharge from the Kala and Sunei dams. High tidal conditions linked to the full moon have slowed the river’s discharge into the sea. Jalaka continued to swell due to heavy rain in upstream areas of Rasgovindpur, Suliapada, Morada and Chitrada in Mayurbhanj district, submerging villages and agricultural land.In neighbouring Bhadrak, Baitarani crossed the danger mark, flowing at 19.20 m against the danger level of 17.83 m at Akhuapada. Floodwaters from Baitarani and its tributary, Genguti, inundated large areas of Dhamnagar block, affecting over 1.6 lakh people across 143 villages in 30 gram panchayats. Dhamnagar NAC, Dhusuri NAC and several urban wards were also submerged. Officials said more than 15,000 residents were evacuated to safer locations, where cooked food is being served through 140 relief centres. Dry food items, including flattened rice, sugar and jaggery, are being supplied to marooned families.Agriculture has been hit hard, with nearly 40,000 hectares of farmland submerged during the paddy transplantation season. Over 34,000 livestock are stranded, and veterinary teams have been deployed for rescue and treatment.Authorities issued a high alert as embankments at Babushahi, Shendhapur and Kanjia Pal remain under heavy pressure. Rescue operations are being carried out by six NDRF teams and nine ODRAF teams, which have evacuated stranded villagers from inundated hamlets.Road connectivity to Dobal, Khadipada, Anandpur, Sohada and parts of Jajpur has been snapped, leaving several villages marooned.Higher education minister and Dhamnagar MLA Suryabanshi Suraj said rescue operations are continuing with support from the NDRF, ODRAF and fire services personnel. He said free community kitchens have been opened and dry food is being distributed to affected families.
