Athgarh, Jul 20: Farmers in Odisha’s Athagarh block are facing mounting distress after floodwaters triggered by a recent low-pressure system inundated vast stretches of agricultural land. Just as they begin assessing the damage, the forecast of another low-pressure system has heightened concerns, dealing another blow to the farming community.

Flooding caused by the overflowing Sapua-Kantia River affected several areas in Athagarh, leaving thousands of hectares of farmland submerged. According to official estimates, nearly 6,900 hectares of cultivated land across 15 gram panchayats in Athagarh block have been damaged.

The worst-hit panchayats include Tarading, Samasarpur, Ichhapur, and Kulailo. Villages such as Patalinga, Karikamala, Samasarpur, Naduapada, Ichhapur, Gudupada, and Muktadeipur have reported extensive crop losses as floodwaters engulfed agricultural fields.

With another spell of heavy rain expected due to the approaching low-pressure system, farmers fear the remaining crops could also be destroyed. Many have expressed concern that the fresh weather system may worsen the already grim situation, making recovery even more difficult.

The repeated flooding has not only damaged standing crops but also raised serious concerns over the livelihoods of hundreds of farming families in the region, who are now looking to the government for timely assistance and compensation.