Odisha, which is already struggling with flooding in the Mahanadi river system and has about 4.7 lakh people stranded in the east, is now dealing with similar issues in the northern region as water levels in the two main rivers that flow through the area—Subarnarekha and Baitarani—have frequently crossed the danger line.
The local authorities have started a large evacuation effort in low-lying regions due to the prospect of a big flood in Odisha’s Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts as the Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers continue to increase.
Odisha, which is already struggling with flooding in the Mahanadi river system and has about 4.7 lakh people stranded in the east, is now dealing with similar issues in the northern region as water levels in the two main rivers that flow through the area—Subarnarekha and Baitarani—have frequently crossed the danger line. In addition to these two rivers, all other rivers, including Budhabalang and Jalaka in north Odisha, are in spate as a result of the severe rains brought on by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal and the consequent discharge of floodwater from Jharkhand.
According to Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena, 58 rescue teams made up of members of the NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Service have been dispatched in the Balasore and Mayurbahnj districts due to the current circumstances. According to him, comparable arrangements have also been made in the neighbouring districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur.
In a communication to the district collectors of the two districts, Jena urged them to “involve Panchayati Raj System employees, women self-help organisations, and those concerned with evacuating people.”
By Monday afternoon, when the Subarnarekha’s peak floodwaters are anticipated to pass over Raj Ghat, the Balasore district administration has prepared to evacuate at least 1.2 lakh people. “The evacuation of civilians is underway in full force. The Balasore district magistrate tweeted that the cluster level authorities were on the ground coordinating activities.
The powers of a special relief commissioner were transferred to the collector of the Balasore district on Sunday by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in light of the crisis, allowing the local government to function more efficiently.
In light of the circumstances, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday gave the collector of the Balasore district the authority of a special relief commissioner in order to improve local government efficiency.
In the state, rain-related disasters involving wall collapses have claimed the lives of at least six people, including two young girls.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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