Balsore flood situation eases, MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi takes stock of relief work

BALASORE: The flood situation in low-lying areas in Balasore slightly improved on Friday with Subarnarekha river flowing at 9.24 m, just below the warning level of 9.45 m at Rajghat in Basta block.

Key points

• Similarly, roads from Paschimbar to Jaleswar, Paschimbar to Baiganbadia and Namkhana to Jharpimpal have been affected by the flood.
• So far, around 2, 500 quintal of flattened rice and 213 quintal of jaggery have been distributed among flood-affected individuals in the affected blocks.
• Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi reviewed the flood situation in Baliapal block on the day and distributed relief material to the flood-affected individuals.
• District emergency officer Chinmay Kumar Rout remarked the flood situation had improved on the day after a receding of water in the Subarnarekha river.
• In Bhograi block, a number of village roads that were inundated earlier became visible on Friday morning after a receding of floodwater.

Although the Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers are additionally flowing below the danger levels, a number of villages in Bhograi, Baliapal, Jaleswar, Basta and Balasore Sadar blocks continue to be inundated by the flood.

As floodwaters have submerged roads, making them barely visible, residents of some villages in Baliapal block are forced to take boats to reach their destinations and Baliapal town for emergency needs.

In Bhograi block, a number of village roads that were inundated earlier became visible on Friday morning after a receding of floodwater. Roads from Thana chowk to Kamarda chowk, Dahamunda to Kamarda and Kusuda to Baharda in Bhograi block remain submerged or tough to identify at a number of stretches, disrupting communication.

Similarly, roads from Paschimbar to Jaleswar, Paschimbar to Baiganbadia and Namkhana to Jharpimpal have been affected by the flood. Flood-affected villagers demanded that the district administration provide cooked and dry food as well as drinking water at relief shelters.

District emergency officer Chinmay Kumar Rout remarked the flood situation had improved on the day after a receding of water in the Subarnarekha river. He remarked around 40, 000 residents in 330 villages under 50 gram panchayats had been affected by flooding in the Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers. The district administration has opened 100 free kitchens to provide hot cooked meals to around 22, 000 evacuated and stranded individuals. Dry food items such as flattened rice and jaggery are additionally being distributed, he stated.

So far, around 2, 500 quintal of flattened rice and 213 quintal of jaggery have been distributed among flood-affected individuals in the affected blocks. The administration has additionally distributed 273 tonnes of cattle feed to protect livestock from the impact of the floods, the officer went on.

For now, balsore flood situation eases, MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi takes stock of relief remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.