Flood Fury / Heavy Rain Triggers Flood Chaos in Jajpur

Jajpur, Aug 9: Continuous rainfall in the upper catchment has triggered the third flood of the year in the Baitarani River, causing widespread disruption in Jajpur district.

The situation worsened when floodwaters from the river’s branch, the Kani, breached near Dovabil‑Patana in Tarapada Panchayat. Repair work was underway on the embankment when nearly five feet of water overflowed into villages, inundating farmland and homes.

Residents of Dovabil‑Patana are now facing severe hardships, with floodwaters entering houses and leaving large areas waterlogged. Drinking water, transportation, and other basic facilities have been disrupted, forcing families to struggle for essentials.

Also read: Flood Threat Looms as Jalaka River near Danger Mark

On July 29, two breaches had already formed in the Kani River near the same location, and with repairs still incomplete, the fresh flood has heightened concerns.

Tragedy struck when a villager, Maheswar Sutar of Dovabil‑Patana, went missing after slipping into floodwaters while going to relieve himself near the embankment. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, water levels in both the Baitarani and Salandi rivers have begun to recede. At Akhuapada Anicut, the danger mark is 18.33 meters, while floodwaters were flowing at 18.07 meters at 6 am.

Similarly, at Rajghat, the Salandi River was flowing at 16 feet against the danger level of 17 feet. Despite the decline, low‑lying areas remain waterlogged, leaving hundreds of families marooned.

Adding to the crisis, incessant rainfall has left more than 100 families trapped in waterlogged conditions in Jagannathpur village under Bandal Panchayat of Bari block. Four panchayats in the block are submerged, with Jagannathpur being the worst affected.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow warning, forecasting heavy rainfall in Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Jharsuguda within the next 24 hours.

Thirteen districts, including Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Balasore, are likely to experience thunderstorms with gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. Rainfall is expected to continue across Odisha until August 14, raising fears of further flooding.