Following an alarming surge in water levels in the Mahanadi river, five districts in Odisha have been placed on high alert. Cuttack, Khurdha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapada are among the districts where a red warning has been issued.
Thousands of people have already been stranded across Odisha when the Mahanadi river basin flooded on Friday as a result of the recent continuous rain in the upper catchment districts.
Water levels in the Mahanadi and its tributaries have swiftly increased since last night, inundating many villages in Banki and Athagarh. Several localities in Nayagarh, Boudh, and Sonepur have experienced water logging. Floodwaters are expected to inundate many more low-lying communities in Puri, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur.
Several acres of paddy fields have been flooded in nine gram panchayats in the Banki and Tigiria blocks. Many roads and culverts in the Nayagarh district are now flooded, impeding connectivity.
Meanwhile, authorities have been placed on high alert, and patrols are being conducted along the river’s embankments. Hundreds of individuals living in high-risk locations are being moved to safer ones. The Water Resource Department has dispatched eight senior personnel to thoroughly monitor the issue. In addition, 106 teams from 16 districts have been mobilized to assist with rescue and flood relief efforts.
Source:OCN