Berhampur, Oct. 24: Major rivers in Ganjam district are flowing above the danger level and incessant rain has flooded several areas.
Aska, Hinjilicut, Sorada, Chikiti, Patrapur and several areas in the district were cut off from the rest of the world as water of the Rushikulya, Badanadi, Loharakhandi, Jarau and the Bahuda rivers have flooded the areas.
“The district has experienced more than 200mm of rainfall within 36 hours since October 22 night. The rainfall amount in Ganjam is 1,244mm per annum, and definitely, it is the highest rainfall within 36 hours,” irrigation department sources said.
The Rushikulya is flowing at 35.98ft against the danger level of 34.75ft at Aska, 82.50ft against the danger level of 81.99ft at Sorada and 17.45ft against the danger level of 16.83ft at Purushottampur today. Rainwater from the Mahendra range has spate the Bahuda and Buddi rivers and flooded about 12 villages at Chikiti and Patrapur, sources said.
Road and rail connection between Odisha and Andhra remain cut off as the Bahuda floodwater is flowing over the NH-5 and the railway track at Ichhapuram in Andhra Pradesh.
The incessant rain has also created havoc at Gajapati Nagar, Neelachal Nagar and Basudev Nagar in Berhampur. About 75,000 people residing at Alakapuri, Basudev Nagar, Neelakantha Nagar, Kalinga Nagar, Saradhabali, Bijaya Bihar, Shakti Nagar and Banchanidhi Nagar are affected, sources said. Discharge of such a huge amount of water through the Bahana nullah to the sea has compounded the problem.
Narayan Panda and his younger brother Prasant, who have been residing at Neelakantha Nagar 5th Lane extension for the past three years, said the Bahana nullah water had gushed into their house since October 22. “Our house is under two feet of water and we have to stay on the roof,” said Narayan.
The Gajapati Nagar Development Committee has arranged for candles, matches and cooked and dry food for the affected people. “We have cooked food for more than 1,000 people and are distributing it to the people at Gajapati Nagar, Neelachal Nagar and Basudev Nagar,” said committee secretary Niranjan Das.
Berhampur Municipal Corporation mayor K. Madhavi, MLA Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik, Ganjam collector Krishen Kumar and others visited the affected areas today.
