Bhubaneswar: More than seven lakh people, including 4.11 lakh in Bhadrak district alone, have been affected as floods wreaked havoc in Odisha following heavy to very heavy rainfall. Around 1.89 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places by the respective district administrations.The state received an average rainfall of 20.3mm in the last 24 hours, with Sinapali block in Nuapada district recording the highest rain of 164mm. Odisha’s cumulative rainfall for July reached 644.1mm, nearly 97% above normal, according to the special relief commissioner (SRC).Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of the affected districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur and Keonjhar. Pujari directed officials to complete district-level assessments of flood damage within 72 hours after floodwaters recede and affected areas dry up, and submit reports to the revenue and disaster management department.Though 20 districts have been affected, Bhadrak is the worst hit, followed by Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.Apart from three deaths in Keonjhar district, a 60-year-old farmer, who had been swept away while trying to cross a swollen nullah under Barkote police station limits in Deogarh district, was found dead on Wednesday. Purna Chandra Apat of Madalia village was on his way home from his farmland on Tuesday afternoon when he tried crossing the nullah and was swept away by strong current.Livestock losses and damage to houses were reported from several districts. “We have lost vegetable crops and paddy saplings prepared for transplantation. We are staring at a huge loss due to the floods. My friend’s fish pond has also been submerged,” said Akashay Sahu, a resident of Bari in Jajpur district.Several villages remained marooned in floodwater, even as Budhapada bridge under Bhandaripokhari block in Bhadrak district was washed away, snapping communication in the area.Pujari said the water level in most rivers has been falling after the rain subsided. “Brahmani river at Jenapur, Baitarani at Akhuapada, Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers are receding. It is a matter of great relief that rain has stopped in most districts,” he said.He added snakebite cases could pose a challenge as floodwater recedes. “Arrangements have been made in hospitals to stock anti-venom injections to treat snakebite cases. Health department is taking steps to address related issues in flood-affected areas,” he said.The minister further said farmers would receive compensation for crop loss and house damage. “People need not worry about losses. We have started preparations to assess the damage caused by the floods. The govt is with them,” he said, asking the SRC to ensure prompt disbursal of compensation to affected people as per norms.The water level in the Hirakud reservoir, however, rose steadily to 620.91ft by 3 pm, with inflows touching 3.19 lakh cusecs. Two sluice gates remained open for regulated discharge, official sources said.To manage the flood response, the govt has deployed three senior officers to supervise operations in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur. A total of 136 response teams, including ODRAF, NDRF and fire services, have been deployed across vulnerable districts.Personnel from Khariar fire station in Nuapada district rescued 27 people, including four women and three children, stranded in Birighat river near Daragaon village in Nuapada district.Amid the flood situation, water resources department intensified field deployment across vulnerable districts and placed engineers and staff on high alert. Officials have been directed to maintain round-the-clock vigil.(With inputs from Malay Ray)
