A major riverbank erosion near Nuapatna in the Nizampur area of Odisha’s Jajpur district has raised serious concerns about the safety of a nearby flood embankment along the Baitarani river.
The erosion, which has claimed over 10 feet of land, is believed to be caused by strong water currents and rising river levels.
Following the incident on Sunday, officials from the Water Resources and Works Departments, along with the Dasarathpur block administration, visited the site late at night to assess the damage and launch emergency response measures. The erosion site lies close to a recently constructed bridge, and authorities observed that water pressure around a midstream island and jetty has increased lateral flow and backpressure, accelerating the bank’s collapse.
Experts believe the soft soil composition of the river island, combined with the intensifying water flow, is further destabilizing the bank and putting the flood protection embankment at high risk.
To curb the immediate threat, sandbagging operations have begun along the eroded stretch. Engineers are also evaluating long-term reinforcement strategies to prevent further erosion and protect the embankment from potential breach.
District officials confirmed that the embankment remains intact for now, but cautioned that if erosion continues or water levels rise further, the structure’s integrity could be compromised. The situation is being closely monitored amid forecasts of more rain and upstream flow increases.
