BALASORE: Flash floods in Jalaka and Kansabansa rivers have affected thousands of people in more than 50 villages in Basta and Simulia blocks of Balasore district.Nearly 20 villages were cut off from the mainland as a bridge near Kudia caved in along a connecting road to Basta- Baliapal State Highway.People in Bhogarai, Jaleswar and Baliapal blocks are scared anticipating a major flood in Subarnarekha on Monday. The water level in the river, the sorrow of north Balasore, is rising rapidly.On Sunday evening, the river was flowing at 10.39 metres against the danger level of 10.36 metres.A revenue official said due to heavy rain in Jamshedpur and catchment areas of Subarnarekha, the river is rising at the rate of 0.3 metre per hour and the water level may cross 11-metre mark by midnight.“We fear if the river flows above the danger mark for more than six hours, at least two lakh people will be affected,” he said.Sources said paddy fields and vegetable crops in 46 panchayats in four blocks of Basta, Baliapal, Bhogarai and Jaleswar have been submerged in flood waters.Though water level in Jalaka was receding, it was still flowing at 5.65 metres against the red mark of 5.5.The floods in Jalaka have inundated Sadanandpur, Baharda, Brahmanda, Mathani, Routpara, Mukulisi, Darada, Idida, Kunduli, Bolang, Rasalpur, Srirampur, Kasaphal and Sartha in Basta and Sadar blocks. At least 10 panchayats in Soro and Simulia blocks have been affected by the floods in Kansabansa river.Vehicular movement has been disrupted as flood water is flowing on the State highways at Baharda, Mathani and Darada. Several connecting roads to NH- 60 have been submerged.Power and telecommunication facilities have been snapped. People in the cutoff areas have taken shelter in school buildings.The flood-affected people alleged that the administration has not provided them relief materials. “We are scared as the flood water has inundated our village after the bridge caved in. The water level is increasing and anytime it will enter our houses.We want polythene sheets and foods to take shelter on the NH,” said Ratnakar Mohapatra, a villager of Kudia.Meanwhile, the district administration has initiated restoration work on Kudia bridge. ADM Sribatsa Jena, who visited the flood-affected areas, said the bridge will be restored by midnight.“We have deployed six power boats and 56 country boats at vulnerable points. A 24- member team is kept ready for rescue and relief operations.Rice, flattened rice, kerosene, water pouches and candles have been stocked in the inaccessible pockets. The situation has not arisen to distribute relief. We are ready for any eventuality,” he added.
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