Jajpur: The water levels of major rivers on Tuesday came down and the danger of first flood in the low-lying areas of the district receded.

The flood water started receding in the Baitarani and Brahmani rivers flowing across the district. The district administration on Tuesday heaved a sigh of relief as the flood situation was averted with the decrease in water levels in both the major rivers.

"The flood water in the Baitarani river, which had crossed the danger level at Akhuapada, already receded and was flowing below the danger level on Tuesday. Hence, there is no flood threat for the district," said Jajpur collector-in-charge Braja Gopal Acharya. Besides, another major river, Brahmani, too, has started receding and is flowing below the danger level at Jenapur on Tuesday, he said.

The Baitarani was flowing at 17.97 metres against its danger mark of 17.83 metres at Akhuapada on Monday evening. Likewise, the Brahmani was flowing at 21 metres on Monday evening against its danger mark of 22 metres at Jenapur, and its water level was rising.

"The Baitarani is flowing at 17.50 metres, just below the danger level at 17.83 metres at Akhuapada, while the Brahmani is flowing at 9.65 metres against its danger level at 22 metres at Jenapur on Tuesday evening," an officer at the district flood control room said.

The district has not received any rain in the past 24 hours. This has contributed to the fall in the water level of all major rivers. "Hence, the flood situation is limping back to normality. We do not foresee a flood in the district as of now," he said.

The flood in the Baitarani, Brahmani and the Kharasrota rivers had been triggered by heavy downpour for the past three days following a depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Heavy rainfall in the past couple of days has reportedly destroyed vegetables and standing paddy crops in many areas of the district. Vegetables crops in many areas of Rasulpur, Dharmasala, Jajpur, Bari and Barachana blocks in the district have been destroyed following the inundation of the crop lands because of the low pressure-induced rain, sources said.

Besides, the standing paddy crops in hundreds of hectares in Dharmasala and Rasulpur areas have been badly affected because of waterlogging of the paddy land, an official said.