Amid looming fear of deluge triggered by incessant torrential rainfall, the Odisha government evacuated over six thousand people while dispatching 106 rescue teams to different districts, officials said. According to the officials, the rescue teams include eight NDRF teams, thirteen ODRAF teams and eighty-five Fire Services (85).
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu said that as many as 6,834 people have been shifted from low-lying areas, and 136 free kitchens have been opened for them.
Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty said, 9.2 lakh cusec water was released from the Mundali barrage on Mahanadi on Thursday, which is likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara by Friday afternoon.
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On Wednesday, a woman was killed in Keonjhar and six people were injured in Kalahandi due to incidents of wall collapse, an official said.
How has the state been affected?
According to the SRC Satyabrata Sahu, the district collectors have been asked to evacuate the low-lying areas.
"Thursday night is crucial for the delta region. The collectors of Angul and Nayagarh districts have also been asked to take precautionary measures and guard weak embankments," Sahu added.About 1.20 lakh people in 762 villages and 17 urban areas have been affected by flooding, Sahu said.
The district authorities and the Water Resources Department were asked to ensure 24×7 patrolling of vulnerable river embankments with the help of police, officials said.
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The water level of Mahanadi at Barmul and Kharimal is receding, and the level of Baitarani river is also going down at Akhuapada, they said.
The water level of Brahmani at Jenapur is constant at 22.20 metre against the danger level 23.00 metre since 4 pm. The Jalaka river at Mathani in Balasore is flowing above the danger level, they added.
The state has received an average of 38 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours, and 147.5 mm since August 1.
