Subarnarekha River Floods 324 Villages in Odisha’s Balasore; Farmers Fear Crop Loss

Balasore: The Subarnarekha River in Rajghat, Odisha’s Balasore district, remains in a critical state, as reported by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Tuesday. The river’s water level stood at 10.37 metres, surpassing the danger mark of 10.36 metres, with a rising trend of 0.01 metres.

Severe flooding since Monday night has worsened conditions in northern Balasore, submerging 324 villages across 123 panchayats in Jaleswar, Bhograi, Basta, and Baliapal blocks. The floodwaters have inundated homes and farmland, leaving thousands of hectares of paddy fields submerged for up to three days, raising concerns over potential crop losses.

In Baliapal block, the collapse of the sluice gate at Jamkunda has caused panic among locals. Heavy rains in the region have led to artificial flooding, further complicating the situation.

The Jalaka river is also overflowing in Basta block, affecting 10 panchayats in Basta and three in Balasore Sadar block. The water level at Mathani has surged to 6.82 metres, well above the danger level of 6.50 metres. Additionally, the Baitarani River near Akhuapada is flowing above the danger mark due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area.

While rainfall in the upper catchment area has subsided, offering some relief, the situation remains precarious. A Water Resources department team has visited affected villages to assess damage and monitor embankments.