Puri: Bhargavi river is in spate causing panic among the riparian villagers under Sadar block of Puri district after flood water from Hirakud reservoir was released to Mahanadi. The administration has so far evacuated hundreds of people from affected areas to safer places.
According to reports, flood water entered some of the low lying areas along the river banks Friday and was flowing two feet over a culvert at Nuagaon on Batagaon-Uttarakona road under Sadar block, disrupting traffic on the stretch.
About 300 people living in Uttarakona village have been affected. An ODRAF team with a boat reached the village and evacuated the people.
Low lying areas of Samang panchayat and Talajang, Dihasahi, Naikula Sahi, Apantara and Gadi Sahi of Talajang panchayat have also been inundated, leaving people worried. Similarly, flood water entered into low lying areas such as Mukunda Mishra Nagar and Nuasahi of Gopinathpur.
So far 101 people from Talajang and 48 from Uttarkona have been evacuated to safer places.
According to a source, flood sensitive areas such as Rathapurusottampur, Jamarsuan, Balia and Suando under Puri and Nimapara irrigation division have been under constant surveillance. Adequate sand bags and casuarina logs have been in place.
On the other hand, 40 people from Kanting area under Pipili were evacuated Friday morning and they are learnt to have returned to their houses in the evening.
Kanchat river, a distributary of Bhargavi river, has caused a 15 to 20 feet breach at Akhubari, leaving about 60 families of Naikula Sahi marooned. Some were seen taking shelter on the road. Talajang Youth Club distributed cooked food among the affected people.
PNN