Balasore: Owing to low pressure-induced rain in the upper catchment areas, the Jalaka River was seen flowing more than two metres above earmarked danger level at Mathani under Basta block in Balasore district Wednesday at 6.00pm in the morning, a source informed.
The situation has posed flood threat in the riparian villages of Jalaka river, making the villagers panicky. Water level was recorded at 7.18 metre against the danger level that stands at 5.50 metre, Irrigation department junior engineer Ashok Das stated.
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Villages like Mathani, Bahardha, Dudhahansa, Sadanandapur, Baruna Gadia, Basichakuri, Darada, Gadapada, Rautapada under Basta block including Srirampur and Rasulpur under Sadar block will submerge in flood water and hundred acres of farmland will become inundated.
Likewise, there is a high possibility of loss of lives and properties in the riparian villages namely Melaka, Pegarapada, Laxmanapada, Sanakhudi, Siba Gadia, Talatapanda, Badakhudi and Dhalasahi as embankments alongside the Jalaka river have become feeble.
Meanwhile, the local residents of Basta and Sadar blocks of Balasore district said that if rainfall continues in the upper stream of Jalaka, the river embankment might collapse at any time as the repair works of the embankment have not been taken up since last ten years.
PNN