Bhubaneswar: The major rivers of Odisha including the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani along with their distributaries are in spate causing breaches in 32 embankments in several parts of Odisha.
Among the 32 breaches, 29 have occurred in Jajpur district of Odisha with the rest occuring in Bari block in Cuttack district of Odisha.
Most of the regions in low lying Jajpur district have been submerged and road connectivity is completely snapped. Out of 29 road breaches in the district, Bari block has 10, Rasulpur block has seven, Sadar block has five, Sukinda block has one, Binjharpur and Dasarathpur blocks have three road breaches each, official sources added.
On the other hand, Jajpur denizens have ascribed the reason behind road breaches to alleged low quality of construction work at several of those affected places. Loss of life and property in the district was caused due to this negligence, they fumed.
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Notably, three-month-old baby Lakshmi, the daughter of Amar Majhi of Beherapatna village of Panasa panchayat under Sadar block had died recently which relates to flood, owing to house walls caving in.
SRC Pradeep Kumar Jena said Bari has been the worst affected block due to the flood. The department has sent 17 officers to Bari block which has been cut-off from all the districts of Odisha since Saturday. The officers have started relief and rescue operations in the state.
According to the SRC, the flood situation in three rivers- Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Baitarini is improving and the water level is now below the danger mark. Three gates of Rengali dam have also been closed Friday.
The current level of Hirakud dam now stands at 127.95 ft and the inflow into the reservoir is reducing. Floodwater is now being released through 46 gates of Hirakud dam and two more gates will be opened, if needed.
PNN