Flood disrupts education in Dhamnagar: Schools and Anganwadis shut

Bhadrak, August 25: Flood conditions have resurfaced in Bhadrak district as the Baitarani River, which had shown signs of receding on Sunday, began rising again late in the night. Continuous and heavy rainfall in Keonjhar and Anandapur has been cited as the primary reason behind the renewed flood threat in the region.

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According to official sources, at Akhuapada in Bhadrak, the river's water level reached 18.86 meters on Monday morning-significantly above the danger mark of 18.33 meters.

Floodwaters have breached into agricultural lands through multiple points- notably Kantighai in the Bhandaripokhari block, and Malli Mahara and Gaurangpur escape channels in Dhamnagar block. There are also reports of erosion and damage to river embankments in some areas. In response, the administration has begun emergency reinforcement work using sandbags and boulders to protect vulnerable stretches.

Authorities fear that the flood may impact several blocks, including Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar, Tihidi, and Chandbali. The district administration has already initiated precautionary steps to mitigate damage and ensure public safety.

As part of the preparedness measures, the District Collector has ordered the closure of all Anganwadi centers in Hasanabad and Arjunpur panchayats under Dhamnagar block for two days — Monday and Tuesday. In addition, 25 schools across the Arjunpur, Hasanabad, Shohada, and Padhani panchayats have been shut down for the same period.

Meanwhile, several panchayats continue to remain surrounded by floodwaters, with relief and monitoring efforts ongoing.