Rivers in spate, eight killed in floods

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 9. Flood situation in Orissa turned grim on Monday as the major rivers Mahanadi, Kathajori, Devi, Brahmani and Kharasrota were reported to be swelling by hours. Flash floods have claimed eight lives across the State so far, besides marooning large tracts in the coastal region as well as in the interior districts of Boudh, Kalahandi and Bolangir.

More areas in coastal Orissa were marooned following passage of 9,48,000 cusecs of water through the Naraj barrage on Mahanadi river on Monday. The water released through the barrage at around 2 p.m. caused floods in Devi and other small rivers affecting a large number of people in Jagatsinghpur district.

Even though the State Government had little detail available on the latest situation in the flood-hit areas, the authorities here said that people had been shifted to safer places in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Boudh and Kalahandi districts and relief was being provided wherever necessary.

The toll increased from three to eight with four deaths reported from Puri district and one from Nayagarh, Mr. Dolagobinda Tripathy, joint secretary in the State Revenue Department, told presspersons at the State Secretariat. Two deaths from Koraput district and one from Kalahandi had been reported by Sunday.

Even as many rivers were swelling due to heavy rain across the State during the past one week, the water level in Baitarani and Vanshadhara rivers had started receding today, Mr. Tripathy said. The breaches caused by the floods in Baitarani in the districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur were being repaired on a war footing, he added.

Mr. Tripathy further informed that many areas in Boudh remained surrounded by flood waters due to floods in Mahurani, Bagha and Salki rivers, while seven Gram Panchayats in the district were cut off from the rest of the world. However, road communication to Bhawanipatna town in Kalahandi had been restored today, he said.

Meanwhile, the State Revenue Minister, Mr. Biswabhushan Harichandan, conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts. On his return, the Minister said that he saw paddy fields marooned by flood water and a large number of villages cut from all sides.

However, the Revenue Department officials were apprehending more trouble as the water level had crossed the danger mark at Dalei Ghai, a vulnerable point in Jagatsinghpur.

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