Odisha’s Kandhamal evacuates people amid flood threat

The incessant rain under the influence of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered a flood-like situation in the coastal and interior districts of Odisha on August 2, 2023.

Vamsadhara river at Kasinagar and the Baitarani at Rajghat breached their safe water levels at 9 am today following the heavy rainfall in their upper catchment areas. 

The Vamsadhara also breached its danger mark of 54.60 metres and the river’s water level rose to 54.90 metres at Kasinagar. Baitarani river was also flowing above its danger mark of 36.36 metres, official sources said.

The water level of the Baitarani is currently at 39.14 metres at Rajghat and a 55-year-old woman was reportedly swept away by a flash flood in the Bitarani near Anandapur in Keoinjhar district.

In a precautionary measure, Kandhamal district administration has evacuated 88 people in Phulbani town to a safer place as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rain for the district. The area where they reside is identified as landslide-prone, according to sources.

Also read: How lack of coordination between Odisha and Chhattisgarh led to floods

The neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has released the season’s first flood water on August 1 by opening the 16 gates of Gotta barrage on Vamsadhara river near Srikakulam. Around 42,937 cusecs of water is being released from the barrage, sources said.

“The water level in Vamsadhara river increased suddenly due to the heavy rainfall in Kalahandi district. We have constantly contacted the Andhra Pradesh government for flood water management. We have also alerted the people living in low-lying areas,” said Smuri Ranjan Pradhan, district collector, Gajapati.

Heavy rains also disrupted communication in several areas. The floodwater has inundated the low-lying areas in Sonepur, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Cuttack districts.

Special Relief Commissioner of the state (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu reviewed the situation with the collectors of Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Boudh, Bhadrak, Balangir, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Sonepur and Sambalpur.

SRC directed the collectors to take adequate precautionary measures and keep all field-level functionaries at strategic locations susceptible to water logging and low-lying areas to meet any eventuality.

Also read: Run-up to COP27: Extreme weather events drive mass migration in Odisha’s Kendrapara, Jharkhand’s Palamu, says study

People from areas prone to water logging are to be evacuated to safe places if required. They will be provided with food and drinking water. An adequate amount of anti-venom has been stored in the local healthcare facilities, SRC said.

Meanwhile, the collectors of at least 15 districts declared holidays for the schools. Nearly 20 places in the state recorded extremely heavy rainfall with over 240 millimetres rain, 50 places saw very heavy rainfall (116 to 240 mm) and 61 stations witnessed heavy rainfall (65 to 115 mm) in the last 24 hours, ended at 8.00 am on August 2, according to the regional centre of IMD.

During the period, more than 300 mm of rainfall was recorded in Boudh (390.6 mm), Karanjia in Mayurbhanj (300.6 mm) and Jujumura (361.8 mm) and Rairakhol (348 mm) in Sambalpur districts. Similarly, more than 200 mm was recorded in 17 blocks. IMD has issued a ‘red warning’ for 10 districts for the day.

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