Bhadrak/Aradi: After three days of incessant rains, thousands of hectares of farmland were flooded while rivers Salandi and Baitarani were in spate in Bhadrak district Friday.
Water level continued to rise in Baitarani since Friday morning and touched 18.1 metre by 3 pm at Akhuapada. Friday evening, Baitarani flowed above the danger mark at Akhuapada while Salandi flowed above danger mark at Rajghat. It is apprehended that river embankments are likely to be beached in these areas.
Now, farmers in riparian pockets were panicked over possible floods as the river embankment at Sathibankuda under Chandbali block has remained submerged under floodwaters.
Besides, a 200-metre stretch of embankment between Bodak and Sathibankuda was on the verge of submergence. Small cracks have developed on the river embankment near Sundarpur facilitating floodwaters to enter the village. Floodwaters were brimming on the river embankment at Dohrapatana.
Officer of the Dhamra irrigation sub-division, Bhubananda Mohanty, said steps were being taken to stack sand sacks on the embankments which are likely to be submerged.
Due to heavy rains, the wall of a house caved in at Dadeswar village late Thursday night leaving three persons critical. The injured were admitted to the Jajpur district headquarters hospital.
Bishnupur sarpanch Panchahan Lenka was taking stock of the flood situation in his panchayat Friday when he was bitten by a snake. He was admitted to the Bhadrak district headquarters hospital.
With rise in water level, people in riparian villages apprehend floods as heavy rains continued in the upper reaches.
Akhuapada recorded 110.8mm; Anandapur 41.4mm; Swampatana 25.8mm; Keonjhar 33.8mm; Thakurmunda 36.0mm; and Champua 62.6mm.