Balasore, Aug. 18: The fear of flood looms large in the district as the Subarnarekha river is swelling, following release of excess rainwater from the Galudih barrage in neighbouring Jharkhand.
The administration is taking counter measures as it apprehends that the discharge may cause high floods in the river and affect Jaleswar, Balipal, Bhograi and Basta of Balasore district and Rasgobindapur block of Mayurbhanj district.
Deputy relief commissioner Prabhat Mohapatra said the special relief commissioner had asked the district administrations in Balasore and Mayurbhanj to maintain vigil and take necessary measures to combat the situation.
"About three lakh cusec water is being released through 12 gates of the Galudih barrage into the river Subarnarekha since midnight. The water is expected to reach Jaleswar by 6am tomorrow," said the executive engineer of irrigation department Rajkishore Ghadei.
"It is apprehended that the water level of Subarnarekha may touch 12.2 metres against the danger level 10.36 metres," he said.
Balasore district collector Pramod Das called an emergency meeting to review the preparedness to face the eventuality.
He said all the officials concerned had been asked to remain alert.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (Odraf) and fire brigade personnel were asked to be ready for rescue operations.
"An NDRF team has been deployed in Jaleswar. Two units of Odraf have been put in place in Bhograi and Baliapal and we have sought two more teams," said Das.
"Power boats and country boats have been positioned. Four senior officers have been deputed at four blocks and have been asked to evacuate people from the low-lying areas as and when required to cyclone shelters and schools," he said.
Since there is a threat to the Rasgobindapur block in Mayurbhanj, the district collector has also been alerted by the special relief commissioner. "Preparations have been made to meet any eventuality in the block. Two villages are most vulnerable and close vigil is being maintained," said Mayurbhanj district collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.
