Jajpur/Bhadrak, Sept. 17: Northern Orissa is facing deluge for the second time as the Baitarani river again crossed its danger mark and marooned large parts of the region.

The flood was worse than the earlier one that took place last week. It has affected over one lakh people at 112 villages of 23 gram panchayats in Dasarathapur, Jajpur and Korei blocks of the district. At least 11 gram panchayats of Dasarathapur block remain flooded. “We faced repeated floods this time. Losing all crops in the first flood, we are now totally dependent on government succour,” said Sambhunath Das of Kaina village in Dasarathapur block.

Road communication links between the district headquarters and Singhpur, Jajpur and Motarangapal have been disrupted with hectares of cropland being flooded.

At least 1,000 people from Dasarathpur block were shifted to safer places, sources said. Five free kitchens were opened today in the flood-hit areas. The toll owing to floods in the district has been put at 11.

Jajpur district collector Anil Kumar Samal said: “We have made all efforts to provide relief and rescue people. Today, we have shifted around 1,000 people to safer places apart from opening five free kitchens to feed them. Earlier, we had provided relief to the flood-affected people of the Dasarathapur block for seven days and this time we are also providing the same.”

Sources said the Baitarini’s water level stood at 18.65m at Akhuapada by today evening as against the danger mark of 17.83m. Similarly, the river was flowing at 18.60ft at Dasarathapur against the danger mark of 12.5ft.

Major rivers of the region such as Brahmani, Kharasrota, Kelua, Budha and Kani are swelling following heavy rain in the upper catchment areas.

Bhadrak district is experiencing another round of flood. The district administration has been kept in alert as the Baiatarini water is flowing towards Dhamnagar, Tihidi and Chandbali blocks. “The vulnerable embankment patch has been strengthened temporarily with sandbags,” said additional district magistrate Debendra Mohapatra.

The district emergency office has confirmed the flood-related death, reported from Bhandaripokhari block.“One Amar Barik of Sarana village under Malda gram panchayat in Bhandaripokhari block died after being swept away by floodwater,” said district emergency officer Suryakanta Padhi.

A total of 179 villages of four blocks are affected with nearly 7,000 hectares of cropland being submerged. Road connection between Bhadrak and Jajpur near Maninathpur had remained severed, he said.