Flood alert in North Odisha, major rivers in spate
The low pressure formed off the Odisha coast has triggered heavy rains over northern Odisha sending Budhabalanga river in spate.
Two blocks of Mayurbhanj were affected by the swelling river and over 1,500 villagers evacuated to safer places.
The low pressure over north-west Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal West Bengal turned well marked and induced heavy showers on the catchments of Budhabalanga and Baitarani.
Thakurmunda received 25 cm rains followed by 16 cm at Jashipur and 11 cm at Karanjia. Similarly, Baripada received 11 cm rains in the last 24 hours.
The Control Room of Special Relief Commissioner said at least 1,200 villagers from Madhuban under Baripada block had to be shifted to a local school following flash floods in Budhabalanga.
Similarly, in Bijatola block, the floods prompted the authorities to open five sluice gates of Barangpohala dam.
The bridge connecting Bijatola Chhaka with Bijatola ward was overflowing with five feet flood water.
As many as 16 houses were damaged.
Road connection in the block was snapped. The district administration supplied dry food and relief materials to the affected families.
Heavy downpour was also recorded in Baitarani catchments where Champua received 19 cm rain followed by 10 cm in Ghatagaon.
The India Meteorological department said heavy to very heavy rainfall (ranging from 12 cm to 24 cm) is likely to occur at a few places over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Sundargarh with extremely heavy showers (more than 24 cm) at one or two places during the next 48 hours.
Heavy rain is also expected in some parts of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Deogarh and Bargarh districts over the next two days.
The weather office warned of strong wind reaching a speed of 45 km to 55 km per hour occasionally gusting to 65 km/hr along and off the Odisha coast. Sea condition will be rough and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
IIM Sambalpur
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