The situation in Balasore district, Odisha, is rapidly deteriorating. The sudden release of water from the Chandil Dam in Jharkhand has caused severe flooding in four major blocks of Balasore: Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta, and Jaleswar.
Bhubaneswar: Sudden floods in Odisha's Balasore district have completely disrupted daily life. The uncontrolled release of water from Jharkhand's Chandil Dam without prior notice caused the Subarnarekha River to swell, inundating over 50 villages across four blocks: Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta, and Jaleswar.
The administration has declared it a serious disaster and deployed NDRF, ODRAF, and fire department teams. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Pratap Sarangi has accused the Jharkhand administration of negligence.
Sudden Rise in River Water Level
Following the release of water from the Chandil Dam on Saturday, the Subarnarekha River's water level suddenly rose above 11 meters, significantly exceeding the danger mark. A young man went missing in the flood, and rescue operations are underway. While some relief was seen Sunday morning with the water level dropping to 9.94 meters, the danger is not yet over.
Over 50,000 People Affected
According to the administration, over 50,000 people have been affected by the flood. Hundreds of acres of farmland are submerged, livestock have been swept away, and roads are completely inundated. Villages are cut off from main roads. Many families have been evacuated to safer locations by boats. Relief camps are overflowing.
Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi held the Jharkhand administration responsible for the disaster. He stated that the release of water from the Chandil Dam without prior notice was criminal negligence. He asserted that the administration should have been alerted beforehand so that necessary steps could have been taken in time. He urged the state government to implement interim relief, crop insurance, and rehabilitation schemes for the affected population as soon as possible.
Relief and Rescue Operations Intensified; Shelter Sought on Embankments
The state government swiftly responded by deploying 5 fire units, 3 ODRAF teams, and 1 NDRF team for relief operations. People are taking shelter on embankments and higher ground in temporary tents made of plastic sheets. Food, water, medicines, and ORS kits are being delivered to affected areas via boats. The district administration has instructed all primary health centers to distribute Haline tablets and other essential medicines.
Health teams are active in 11 villages in the Bhograi and Dahmuda PHC areas and 17 villages in the Gantu-Jamkunda area. ASHA workers have also been provided with ORS, chlorine tablets, and first-aid supplies to prevent waterborne diseases.
When Will the Situation Improve?
According to the administration, the situation is currently under control, but it may take another 4 to 5 days for the floodwaters to recede completely. Relief supplies are being continuously provided to the villages, and the situation is being monitored hourly. The District Collector has appealed to people not to stay in their homes but to seek shelter in safe places and follow the guidelines issued by the administration.
