Flood Fury / Bhadrak on Alert as Salandi River Swells Again

Bhadrak, Aug 9: The flood situation in Odisha has taken a serious turn with water levels rising once more in the Salandi River.

Despite a brief decline Saturday night, the river began swelling again after noon on Sunday. At Rajghat, where the danger mark is 17 feet, floodwaters are currently flowing at 16.10 feet. Authorities at Hadagada Dam have released nearly 1,800 cusecs of water through two gates, further contributing to the rise.

As a result, floodwaters have inundated bridges at Mukundpur and Matagajpur, disrupting local movement. Agricultural fields have been submerged, and repair work on a massive 300‑foot breach at Baro and Lanjatara along the Salandi and Nalia rivers has been hampered by strong currents.

Also read: Odisha Braces for More Rain as Cyclonic System Likely to Intensify

Farmers, already reeling from the second flood this season, are facing devastation with crops destroyed and villages marooned.

In Tihidi block’s Talagopabinda Panchayat, floodwaters have entered nearly 24 hamlets across villages such as Matagajpur, Nathpada, Jenasahi, Narasinghpur, Nichanda, Hatnagar, and Mankadkola.

Residents are struggling with waterlogged homes, lack of drinking water, and disrupted transport. The breaches along the Nalia River have allowed floodwaters to gush into villages, raising fears of further damage to embankments.

Local accounts reveal the dire conditions: families trapped in submerged homes, villagers wading through waist‑deep water, and even hawkers braving floodwaters to sell food to stranded residents. The community remains anxious as water levels continue to fluctuate, threatening more villages.

Meanwhile, the Baitarani River has also witnessed its third flood of the year following heavy rainfall in upper catchments. In Dovabil‑Patana under Tarapada Panchayat, floodwaters nearly five feet high have entered homes and farmlands.

A breach created on July 29 in the Kani River remains unrepaired, allowing water to inundate the area. Villagers are facing severe hardships, with drinking water shortages and basic facilities disrupted.

With both Salandi and Baitarani rivers swelling, the flood crisis has deepened across Jajpur district, leaving thousands of families vulnerable and anxious about further inundation.