Bhubaneswar, Oct. 15: The heavy downpour triggered by Phailin has wrecked havoc in four north Odisha districts, affecting about 15 lakh people. The Indian Air Force airdropped food packets in the marooned areas, while the navy has also been pressed into rescue operations.

Major rivers in north Odisha — Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga — were in spate inundating vast areas of the region.

Baripada, the district headquarters town of Mayurbhanj, experienced an unprecedented deluge as the town was submerged under the floodwater of Budhabalanga. More than 80 per cent of the urban areas remained under water.

For the first time, the entire Bada Bazar area was inundated and the first floor of all the multi-storey structures along Grand Road remained submerged.

“We had experienced a flood in the early 1970s when Deula Sahi and some surrounding areas were affected. But, this one was worse,” said Janjyadutta Das, 63, a retired government employee.

While Budhabalanga showed a receding trend, Subarnarekha was flowing above the danger level. Baitarani was in spate affecting Bhadrak and Jajpur, while floodwater in Brahmani was on the rise.

Brahmani may swell further because of opening of sluice gates of Rengali dam in Angul district, causing flood threat in Bari and Binjharpur blocks of Jajpur district.

“Rengali dam authorities have told us that they would open all the gates in three phases because of the water pressure. They have already opened two gates in the first phase,” said Jajpur collector Anil Kumar Samal.

Revenue divisional commissioner (central) Arabinda Padhee, who was supervising rescue and relief operations in the region, said: “The relief operations will continue for three more days or further depending on the situation.”

On the other hand, release of floodwater from Hirakud reservoir following heavy rain in the upper catchment has caused a flood threat in the Mahanadi river system.

The water level of Hirakud dam stood at 624.73 meters against the danger mark of 630 meters. While 1,69,548 cusecs of water were entering into the reservoir 23,000 cusecs were being released every second.

At Naraj near Cuttack, the water level of Mahanadi stood at 22.75 metres against the danger mark of 24.75 metres.

The authorities are worried as the water level of sea is expected to increase until October 18 (full moon day) and any further release of water from the dam will only worsen the situation for areas downstream.

Balasore

More than seven lakh people residing in more than 930 villages under 144 gram panchayats of the district were affected. Nearly 70,000 people were evacuated and given shelter in 173 camps across the district.

District collector B. Parameswaran said: “Adequate relief materials have been sent to north Balasore blocks. We are monitoring the water level of the Subarnarekha river.”

So far, one casualty because of flood has been reported from Sadar block. The deceased has been identified as Madhab Thata, 48, of village Palabarei of Parakhi gram panchayat.

Mayurbhanj

District emergency officer Pallavi Nayak said 95,566 people from Baripada Municipality, Udala Notified Area Council, 11 blocks and 56 gram panchayats were affected because of the unprecedented flood in the Budhabalanga and Gangahar rivers.

About 20,000 people were taken to safety and about 84,000 people were lodged in 225 shelters. Food packets were supplied by choppers in Betnoti and Baisinga areas yesterday. The other affected blocks are Samakhunta, Rasgobindapur, Badasahi , Moroda , Kaptipada, Udala, Bangriposhi, Khunta and Kuliana.

Bhadrak

More than three lakh people in the district were affected because of the flood caused by river Baitarani. Dhamnagar, Tihidi and Bhandaripokhari blocks were severely affected. District collector L.N. Mishra said: “About 200 villages under three blocks are affected. About 100 villages were marooned while about 8,000 people were evacuated.”

Jajpur

More than 2.5 lakh people in 345 villages under 55 gram panchayats of five blocks in the district have been affected.

Roads between headquarters town and Panikoili on NH-5, Bari block headquarters and Kuakhia, and Bariand Kalamatia-Kaipara were cut off. Besides, road links to hundred of villages remained cut off, telecommunication and power supply have also been snapped in many areas.