Jajpur/Balasore, Sept. 7: Flash flood claimed one life in Jajpur while vast areas in northern districts remained inundated as major rivers of the region had been in spate following incessant rain. The downpour was triggered by depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Official sources said one Bisak Ojha, 23, of Jayantara village of Dasrathpur block in Jajpur was swept away in the Baitarani river yesterday.

Reports from Jajpur said over 40 villages in the district remained marooned as flash floods in the Baitarani river and its tributary Kani hit 13 gram panchayats of Dasarathapur and Jajpur blocks. The rivers caused breaches at four places at Dasarathapur block, marooning over 21,000 people at 40 villages.

Major rivers in the district were flowing above the danger level. Nearly 21,500 people at 40 villages under 13 blocks of Dasarathapur and Jajpur have been affected.

At least 35 villages were under water and 12 persons, whose houses had collapsed, were shifted to a local school. Dasarathpur block has been the worst hit with nearly 17,000 people of 33 flood-affected villages. Road communication was also hit there.

Relief operation started today at some of the affected villages, officials said.

“We will provide relief to the victims at Dasarathapur for three days from today. Local officials have been asked to rush relief to the affected areas. This apart, the district administration is also taking steps to provide fodders to the affected livestock. One person was killed in the flash flood,” said Jajpur sub-collector Dhananjaya Swain.

District emergency office sources said water level of the Baitarini river stood at 18.14m as against the danger mark of 17.83m at Akhuapada at 3pm today. Similarly, water level of the Brahmani river was recorded at 68.3ft at Jenapur at 4pm today against the danger mark of 67ft.

Moreover, Kelua, Budha, Kani and Kharasrota rivers are swelling. Water level in major rivers is on the rise owing to heavy rain in the upper catchment areas.

The swelled Baitarani had caused damage to five gram panchayats of Dhamnagar block in Bhadrak district.

The affected gram panchayats included Arjun, Pradhani, Jalanga and Uteipur. Around 500 acres of farmland were submerged under floodwater, said Bhadrak additional district magistrate Debendra Mohapatra.

However, the flood-hit Balasore is fast returning to normalcy as all the rivers in the district have receded. Major rivers Subarnarekha and Bhudhabalanga, which had posed flood threat to Sadar, Remuna, Basta, Jalesar, Bhograi and Balipal blocks, were flowing below the warning level.

“The water level of the rivers has receded even below the warning level. We have supplemented cooked food in the affected pockets of Sadar block for two days. Around 691 marooned people were provided relief,” said Balasore sadar sub-collector Ramesh Rout.