Berhampur, Sep 24: Flood fears have intensified in Odisha’s Ganjam and Gajapati districts following heavy rainfall that pushed up water levels in the Rushikulya, Vansadhara, Badanadi and Loharkhandi rivers, officials said on Thursday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain in southern Odisha, including Ganjam and Gajapati, for the next two days, raising concerns of further swelling of rivers and their tributaries.
“If there is more rainfall in the catchment areas of Rushikulya and Vansadhara, we can’t rule out a flood in these rivers and their tributaries,” a senior Water Resources Department engineer said.
As a precautionary measure, water has been released from the Bhanjanagar, Baghua and Dhanei reservoirs over the past two days. Officials said water could also be released from the Baghalati dam if the water level rises further.
“If the water level increases, we will release water from Baghalati dam too,” said Subrat Patnaik, Superintendent Engineer, Chikiti division.
Ganjam recorded an average rainfall of 60.12 mm in the 24 hours ending at 8 am, with Sanakhemundi receiving the highest rainfall of 98 mm.
In Gajapati, the average rainfall was 71.64 mm, while Paralakhemundi recorded the highest at 121.4 mm, followed by Gosani at 120 mm and Mohana at 103 mm.
Heavy rain also uprooted roadside trees at several locations in Kashinagar NAC and Budubudia in Mohana block. Fire personnel and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) cleared the affected roads.
The Gajapati administration has evacuated around 7,000 people from vulnerable areas and accommodated them in 150 temporary shelter camps as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, a huge boulder rolled down a hill at Badaghati on NH-16 near Khallikote, disrupting communication in the area.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation in both districts in view of the forecast for continued heavy rainfall.
