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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Hungry tide threatens state by Subhashish Mohanty

Hungry tide threatens state by Subhashish Mohanty

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published Published on Sep 11, 2011   modified Modified on Sep 11, 2011

The next 72 hours will be crucial for the state as it battles to keep its head above rising floodwaters in the Mahanadi basin.

Authorities kept an anxious watch on the situation today as Hirakud town was cut off from Sambalpur and the Pipli-Konark road was closed with several rivers still in spate. The government directed collectors of the 19 flood-hit districts to close down schools and colleges in the marooned areas.

Sources said the next few days would be crucial as a huge discharge from the Hirakud reservoir had passed through Mundali and Naraj barrages in the coastal belt and was gushing downstream.

Sambalpur and Hirakud towns have been hit hard with water entering low-lying areas.

The swirling waters of Dhanua, a tributary of Mahanadi, flowed over the Bhubaneswar-Pipli-Konark road. Pipli police confirmed that vehicles were not being allowed on the Pipli-Konark stretch.

Roads between Pipli-Jatni and Khurda-Nayagarh had also been hit. Kontilo, a well-known tourist spot in Nayagarh district, had been cut off almost completely. Another historical monument — Maa Bhatarika Temple — near Banki in Cuttack district is lying half-submerged .

While parts of Khurda and Nayagarh have been affected, water has entered Sonepur town. School buildings in 19 flood-hit districts will be used for shelter and relief operations.

Special relief commissioner Pradeepta Mohapatra said: “Most educational institutions in the marooned areas will be closed. Around 11 lakh people have been affected so far.”

The Indian Navy has already sent a Chetak helicopter and dispatched a shipload of relief material to aid rescue operations.

Mohapatra said: “The 26-seat chopper stationed in Bhubaneswar for anti-Maoist operations will also be used for air-dropping relief materials. If necessary, more choppers will be sought from the Air Force.”

A number of breaches have reportedly taken place on the embankments of tributaries of the Mahanadi. However, state water resource secretary Suresh Mohapatra said: “There is no cause for panic. The worst may pass tonight.”

The state government said 9.94 lakh cusecs of water were now entering Hirakud reservoir and 9.75 lakh cusecs of water were being released through 59 sluice gates. Water of the Bilua is flowing above danger level at Dalei Ghai.

Reports from Cuttack said the situation remained grim in various blocks of the district with more than 1.58 lakh people affected. The road between Cuttack and Banki has been cut off because of a breach at Baluaga village.

Sambalpur town has been severely affected, said state disaster management minister Surya Narayana Patro.

Rise of major rivers in Jagatsinghpur have kept the people there on tenterhooks. “About 12,000 residents in the villages of Tirtol, Balikuda, Naugaon and Biridi blocks have been evacuated,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Narayan Chandra Jena.

The situation was grim in adjoining Kendrapara district. “The deltaic region of the Mahanadi river system in Kendrapara, Derabish, Marshaghai, Garadpur and Mahakalpada blocks is vulnerable,” said Kendrapara collector Pradipta Kishore Pattnaik.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SUBRAT MOHANTY, VIKASH SHARMA, SUDEEP KUMAR GURU AND MANOJ KAR

The Telegraph, 11 September, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110911/jsp/orissa/story_14492260.jsp


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