The normal lives of people came to a standstill as floodwater from the Baitarani River inundated residential areas in parts of Bhadrak district. According to the district administration, 80,000 to 90,000 people have been affected due to the flood situation.
“As of now, three blocks in Bhadrak district are affected due to floodwater. The administration has taken steps and boats, along with other necessary help, have been deployed. 80,000 to 90,000 people are affected, “ Siddeshwar Baliram Bondar, District Magistrate Bhadrak, told a news agency.
Vendors move their belongings on the banks of the River Ganges, in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.
Mahanadi river flows above the danger mark at Naraj barrage in Odisha’s Cuttak .
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday reviewed the flood situation in the state and directed the officials to ensure zero casualties due to floods and that there should be no disruption to normal life. Patnaik also directed officials to evacuate people in the risk-prone areas on a priority basis and provide them with necessary relief and basic facilities. He also directed the departments concerned at the state level to provide immediate assistance to the districts.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to keep the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and fire service units on alert in various danger-prone areas and engage in rescue operations where necessary.
Patnaik also asked to minimise the communication interruption and directed that life-saving institutions like hospitals, water supply and power supply systems should provide uninterrupted services. The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department should make provision for clean drinking water in rural areas, Health Department should make special arrangements to provide health services to the people in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the administration in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram is on high alert as the River Narmada flows in spate, causing a flood-like situation in the low-lying areas. The water level of the river increased following torrential rains in the region over the last couple of days. The district officials added that the Narmada River in the area has touched the danger mark.
“Administration is on alert after water levels rose in Narmadapuram and touched the danger mark. While water levels have risen, we are still 1.5 feet away from alarming levels,” NK Singh, the District Magistrate, told the news portal.
“We are prepared to handle the situation in case the water rises further and a flood situation erupts. We have already placed people across the river banks, “ he added.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also took stock of the situation and assured that his government was taking considerate attempts to cease or control the flow of water through the dams in the state. “The opening of the gates of several dams have made the level of River Narmada reach the warning mark and we are making every possible effort to remove the water by regulating to control it,” the CM said.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted fairly widespread rainfall over the areas of Madhya Pradesh from Thursday to Sunday. It also predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, likely over East Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on Saturday and Sunday.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, water levels of the River Ganga and River Yamuna submerged the low-lying areas around the Sangam Ghat and the roads surrounding it.
The administration has also suspended the bathing of people at the ghats of Sangam beach amid the sudden rise in water flow. Teerth Purohit Vicky Pandey said that there is a high chance to observe a further increase in water level.
“We are taking our belongings to the other end of the dam as the level of water of Yamuna is rising continuously since yesterday, while that of Ganga is currently stable,” said Rajesh Kumar, a pilgrim said.
Another priest at the Ghat said that the water level started rising on Monday after Delhi released water from the Yamuna on Sunday night. “So far, the water rose approximately 8.5 ft above its normal level, and hence we are shifting to a safer place. The military assures us of our safer accommodation every year, hence we are shifting under the pier,” said priest Ramesh Pandey.
He further added that the water level had reduced to some extent on the last night when they decided to make a shift.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday predicted that Uttar Pradesh is likely to experience isolated heavy falls and thunderstorms or lightning in the coming few days. “Isolated heavy falls and thunderstorm/lightning in East Uttar Pradesh on 19th and 20th (Friday and Saturday) and over West Uttar Pradesh on 20th August 2022 (Saturday),” IMD tweeted.
