Subarnarekha river crosses danger mark; 10 Panchayats severely affected in Odisha's Balasore district

Bhubaneswar, June 21: The Subarnarekha River has surged past the danger mark at Rajghat village in Odisha’s Balasore district, triggering a flood alert across low-lying areas. Several villages in the Baliapal, Bhogarai, and Jaleswar blocks have reported rising water levels, with Baunsakhana and Matikhana among the worst affected.

Join Us on WhatsApp for Breaking News in English

In response, the Balasore District Administration has issued high-alert directives to officials in the Jaleswar, Bhogarai, Basta, and Baliapal blocks, cancelling all leaves and mandating round-the-clock readiness. Authorities are preparing for possible evacuations and have ordered the stocking of essential supplies at flood relief centres.

So far, 53 residents from the Jaleswar Municipality area have been temporarily relocated but have since returned home as water levels have stabilized locally. Partial flooding has been observed in some parts of Baliapal and Kamarda, though full evacuations have not been required.

An ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) team has been stationed in Baliapal and Bhogarai. In neighbouring Mayurbhanj district, two ODRAF teams have been deployed at Nedam/Jharpokharia and Tikayatpur/Rasgovindpur to support any emergency response.

Dr. Satyajit Naik, DIG Eastern Range, Balasore, has directed senior police officials to ensure that all Very High Frequency (VHF) communication systems are operational and that rescue boats are in working condition and properly stationed. He is coordinating closely with the Superintendents of Police and District Collectors of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Bhadrak to keep a vigilant eye on the developing situation.