State sounds flood alert in north Odisha districts

BHUBANESWAR: Authorities on Friday sounded a flood alert after a low pressure turned into a deep depression, triggering heavy showers in north Odisha districts.
With Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga rivers swelling, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Balasore districts may experience very heavy rainfall on Friday night.

"Obey the directions of the administration and cooperate with the government. Every life is important for me. Please pay attention to your safety and your family's safety," Naveen said.
Addressing a news conference, special relief commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena said the government is ready to face for floods in the three rivers. "It will also depend on rainfall in Jharkhand, besides in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. These apart, the government has also kept a close watch on Brahmani and Salandi rivers," Jena said.
In anticipation of heavy rainfall in catchment of these five rivers, water in the six reservoirs are being discharged and will be kept below 50% capacity.
Similarly, ODRAF and fire service personnel are being deployed in Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts, he said.
The IMD has predicted a deep depression over northwest and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal, which may bring torrential rainfall in Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and parts of Sundargarh district as it crosses West Bengal and Odisha coasts between Balasore and Sagar Islands on Friday evening.
IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the system may trigger heavy rains in northern Odisha and Jharkhand, while accompanying squally wind may damage kutcha houses and uproot trees.
With IMD predicting a better situation in the Mahanadi basin, the government authorities heaved a sigh of relief.
In Mahanadi delta, there were signs of improvement as the rainfall reduced in its catchment area and the Hirakud discharge significantly fell even as more than 400 villages across 13 districts remained marooned and around 90,000 people are staying in shelters.
SRC Jena said maximum three lakh cusec water may enter Hirakud and may not further worsen the improving situation. Though many villages are still inundated, water level has started receding in the lower catchment area of Mahanadi as Hirakud closed 20 sluice gates, currently discharging through 20 gates only, he said.
Power has been restored to 2.43 lakh households among the 2.77 lakh affected, with work underway to restore power in the remaining 34,000 households.
Altogether 150 medical relief camps and 110 mobile health units have been engaged to provide medical aid to people.