The Hindu : Front Page : Heavy rain raises fears of another round of floods

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Heavy rain raises fears of another round of floods

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the toll in the latest spell of rains went up to seven, water level was fast rising in different river systems of the State, raising fears of another round of floods in two or three districts on Sunday.

Two more deaths were reported from the Phulbani area. At Puri, violent waves washed away a portion of a newly constructed road to Puri-Konark Marine Drive. Vehicular movement on that road has been regulated.

Water level was rising steadily at 19 out of 28 river gauge sites, the daily flood bulletin issued by the Water Resource Department said. Moreover, water flow overtopped danger mark at four places. Water level was measured to be at 39.55 metres against the danger mark 38.36 metres at Anandpur on the Baitarani river. Similarly, at its nearest river gauge site, Akhupada, water was flowing at a height of 18.25 metres against the danger level of 17.83 metres.

Similarly, water also flowing above danger level at NH-5 Govindpur on the Burhabalanga river and at Kashinagar on the Vanshadhara. Several parts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj district were inundated, district control rooms said.

According to the State Revenue Control Room, Athagarh received highest rainfall during the last 24 hours. The rainfall was measured to be at 27 cm there. Similarly, Nilagiri of Balasore district, received 23 cm and it was closely followed by Ghatagaon where the precipitation was 22 cm. Most places in coastal as well as northern regions, rainfall was measured close to 10 cm affecting normal life.

More in store

Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre predicted more rains. It said Saturday’s depression over the northwest Bay had crossed the Orissa coast near Puri and lay centered near Angul and under its influence heavy to very heavy rains were likely occur at many places over the State.

“The system is likely to move in a northwesterly direction and weaken gradually,” it said.

There was slight improvement in the situation at the Hirakud reservoir where water level came down from 630.1 ft to 629.52 ft against a maximum storage capacity of 630 ft. As many as three sluice gates were opened to release floodwater.

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