Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Sept 17: The Subarnarekha River at Rajghat in Odisha’s Balasore district continues to pose a severe flood risk, according to a report from the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Tuesday. The river’s water level was recorded at 10.37 meters this morning, slightly above the danger mark of 10.36 meters, and is showing a rising trend.
Severe flooding from the Subarnarekha has exacerbated conditions in northern Balasore since Monday night. Floodwaters have inundated several nearby villages, affecting 324 villages across 123 panchayats in the Jaleswar, Bhograi, Basta, and Baliapal blocks.
In Baliapal block, the collapse of the sluice gate at Jamkunda has further alarmed residents, compounding the effects of artificial floods caused by heavy rainfall. A team from the Water Resources Department has visited the affected areas to evaluate the state of river embankments.
The flooding has submerged thousands of hectares of farmland, primarily paddy fields, leaving farmers anxious about potential crop losses. Additionally, the Jalaka River in Basta block is also flowing above the danger mark, impacting 10 panchayats in Basta and 3 panchayats in Balasore Sadar. The water level at Mathani in Basta has reached 6.82 meters, surpassing the danger level of 6.50 meters.
The Baitarani River is experiencing high water levels due to heavy rains in its upper catchment area, with levels exceeding the danger mark near Akhuapada. However, rainfall in the upper catchment has ceased, providing some relief to local residents and authorities.
