Villagers place sand bags on a river bank as floodwater rises in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 6: Relief, rescue and evacuation process started at riverside villages located on the Mahanadi basin as a high flood was expected.

The plight of the flood-hit people worsened with the occurrence of some more breaches on river embankments in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts.

CUTTACK: The district administration today evacuated nearly 18,500 people from 98 villages as nearly two lakh cusecs of floodwater was expected to pass through Mundali barrage by tonight. Floodwater has entered 22 villages at Badambada. District collector S.N. Girish said a team of National Disaster Response Force had been sent to Nischintakoili following a breach. Over 1,500 people have been evacuated alone from Banki. Road communication to Banki from Khurda, Cuttack and Kalapathar remains cut-off.

JAJPUR: Two new breaches occurred on the Brahmani river right embankment near Matiapada and Chandanpur at Bari this morning. The Brahmani floodwater entered at least seven panchayats causing inundation of 20 villages at Bari block. Inundated water bodies have added to the drinking water problem. Both the Baitarani and Brahmani were flowing above the red mark.

KENDRAPARA: Two persons were washed away by floodwaters at Marshaghai today as around 24,000 villagers were affected as water from the Luna and Chitrotpala rivers gushed into 15 gram panchayats. Around 6,000 residents remain marooned at Marshaghai and Garadpur blocks.

SAMBALPUR: Following discharge of excess water from the Hirakud reservoir, several low-lying areas of the city were inundated today. The ring road remained cut-off after water flowed over the Mandlia bridge.

ANGUL: Around 2,000 inhabitants of Tikarpara in Satkosia forest are encircled by the Mahanadi water and are in panic due to release of more floodwater into the river tonight. “We are ignored by the local officials in getting food and others even our village has been inundated by the Mahanadi water,” said Subash Pradhan of Tikarpara village.

BHADRAK: Rivers were flowing above the danger level. While rural areas reeled from flood due to the Baitarini, the urban pockets were still under the grip of the swelling Salandi. Dhamnagar continues to be the worst affected block followed by Bhandaripokhari. At least nine breaches occurred at various places, including eight at Dhamnagar and another one at Chandbali.

BALASORE: The rising Subarnarekha has caused panic crossing the red mark by afternoon. A water resources department official said the river could swell further as excess stored water from Chandili of Jharkhand was being discharged.