Heavy rains in the upper reaches have sent water levels soaring across multiple rivers in north Odisha, creating a tense flood situation that could linger for days even after the skies clear.
Jalaka has already breached the danger mark, Baitarani is in a full flood situation, and the Subarnarekha is steadily climbing. The biggest worry, according to senior officials, is that river levels will not drop immediately once the rain stops. “The flood threat remains over north Odisha even if the rain clouds move away,” said Dilip Raut, Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department.
At Mathani in Balasore, Jalaka’s water level touched 6.60 metres against the danger level of 6.50 metres on Friday. Elsewhere, continuous downpours over the past two days have pushed up levels in the Baitarani and Subarnarekha, triggering waterlogging and flooding concerns in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and parts of Keonjhar.
Low-lying areas are already feeling the impact. Roads are underwater in several places, farmlands are submerged, and floodwater has entered homes in some villages. Authorities have begun evacuating people from vulnerable zones and rolling out relief measures.
Officials are keeping a close watch on the Baitarani, especially around Akhuapada, where any further rise could hit low-lying pockets of Bhadrak and Jajpur. The Subarnarekha currently flows about two metres below the danger mark, but its upward trend has raised red flags. If the climb continues, riverside areas in Balasore could face fresh inundation.
“The pressure is building on multiple fronts — Jalaka and Subarnarekha for Balasore, Baitarani and Salandi for Bhadrak, and Baitarani for Jajpur,” Raut explained. Agricultural lands in Dhamnagar and Tihidi in Bhadrak, and Dasarathpur in Jajpur, are particularly at risk. Prolonged waterlogging could damage standing paddy and other crops, adding to farmers’ worries.
Administration officials across the affected districts remain on high alert. While rains may ease, the delayed drainage of floodwater means north Odisha will need to stay prepared for the next few days. Residents in riverside and low-lying areas have been advised to stay vigilant and follow official advisories.
