Odisha: Flash flood create havoc in Balasore, over 50,000 affected

With the flash flood in river Subarnarekha affecting over 50,000 people in Odisha’s Balasore district, the state government on Saturday launched rescue and relief operations in the inundated areas. The flash flood in three blocks and one urban pocket of Balasore district was due to sudden release of water from Chandil Dam in Jharkhand, alleged Balasore MP and former Union minister Pratap Sarangi. Sarangi told reporters that people suddenly found water in their villages even though there was no rain in their area.
As many as 61 villages under 21 gram panchayats of four blocks – Baliapal, Basta, Bhograi and Jaleswar – experienced flood as the water level in the Subarnarekha river crossed the danger mark of 10.36 metre, an official said. Keeping in view the flood situation, the district administration has asked the Block Development Officers (BDOs) and tehsildars to evacuate people from the low-lying areas and provide them with food by opening free kitchens.
DIG, Eastern Range, Satyajit Naik said a flood alert has been sounded in the district of Balasore as the river Subarnarekha crossed the danger mark at Rajghat. “ODRAF teams are deployed in Balasore & Mayurbhanj districts. Authorities are on high alert with VHF sets and operational boats ready. The situation is being closely monitored,” the DIG said.
Collector & District Magistrate, Balasore in a post on X said, “ASHAs under CHCs & PHCs are actively distributing ORS & Halogen tablets in 11 submerged villages of Bhograi and Dahamunda PHC areas and 17 villages of Ghantua and Jamkunda PHC areas. Health teams on-ground. Essential medicines stocked at PHC, Sub Centres & ASHA level.” As several villages remained marooned, the administration deployed boats and teams from Fire Service (5 teams), ODRAF (3) and one NDRF to help the administration in rescue and relief operations.