Balasore, June 21(OT Webdesk): Heavy upstream rainfall and a sudden discharge from Jharkhand’s Galudih barrage triggered widespread flooding along the Subarnarekha River, causing extensive damage in Odisha’s Balasore district.
Water levels breached the danger mark near Rajghat in Jaleswar block, plunging the low-lying areas of Bhogarai and Baliapal into chaos.
Villages including Khalabadia, Kulha, Baunskhana, Kudamansingh, Chaudhurykud, and Baliapal are submerged under nearly four feet of water.
Transportation has come to a standstill, isolating entire panchayats and leaving residents to navigate waist-deep waters in makeshift boats.
Farmers face devastating losses as submerged fields and standing crops bear the brunt of the deluge. “We’ve lost everything—our crops, our homes,” a villager lamented.
Emergency measures are underway in Chaudhurykud, where embankments are being bolstered with sandbags. The district administration has deployed relief teams and is actively monitoring for potential evacuations.
With water levels still rising, the situation remains critical.
Odisha’s disaster response teams are on high alert, working to protect lives and mitigate further damage in what could become one of the region’s worst flood events in recent years.
