Flood water at a village in Basta after the collapse of a culvert. Telegraph picture

Balasore, June 19: The spectre of floods has begun to haunt this district and its adjoining regions.

Several villages in two gram panchayats of Basta block have been virtually cut off from the block headquarters as a portion of a culvert on the road connecting Basta with Baliapal has been washed away by the flood waters of Jalka river. Water in Jalka is flowing above the danger level.

The river swelled following incessant rain in its catchment areas for the last four days as a depression originated in the Bay Bengal off Balasore coast.

Officials said Jalka was flowing at 7 metres against its danger level of 5.5 metres. The culvert near Kudia between Basta and Baliapal was washed away by the flood waters.

“A portion of the culvert connecting these villages was washed away as the river swelled further last night. As a result, road connection was severed. We are trying to restore communication at the earliest,” said additional district magistrate Sribatsa Jena, adding that he had asked the water resources department to make at least a temporary arrangement so that pedestrians do not suffer from any inconvenience.

While the villages of Bharda and Mathani gram panchayats have been literally cut off, the villagers are reaching the national highway in an alternative route wading through waterlogged patches.

“We are making temporary arrangements by putting strong planks to bridge the gap in the culvert. The pedestrians may be able to pass now, but four-wheelers and other heavy vehicles will remain stranded,” said Ganapati Giri, tehsildar of Basta.

The river is getting flooded rather easily because of heavy siltation on its bed. Officials said while the water level of river Jalka might recede slowly, there was danger of Subarnarekha going into spate. That was a bigger danger because the swelling of Subarnrekha would cause havoc in areas such as Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal and Basta.

According to the last reports received this evening, Subarnarekha was flowing slightly above the danger level. It was flowing at 10.39 metres against its danger level of 10.36 metres. The river may swell further gradually, informed a member of the staff at the district emergency office.