The Subarnarekha River in northern Odisha is experiencing its sixth flood this year, displacing thousands of people and submerging dozens of villages in the Balasore and Bhadrak districts.
The continuous rainfall has pushed the river’s water level to 10.80 metres, significantly above its danger mark of 10.36 metres.
The severe flooding has hit low-lying areas in the Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar, and Bhograi blocks, where fields of paddy and vegetables have been wiped out. In the Bhograi block alone, more than 10,000 residents are affected, with at least five panchayats completely cut off.
Road connectivity has been lost in several areas, including between Baliapal, Bhograi, and Rasulpur. Residents have begun evacuating their homes as floodwaters continue to rise.
Both the Balasore and Bhadrak district administrations have deployed fire and rescue service teams to assist with relief and evacuation operations. Local authorities are concerned that continued rainfall in the river’s upper catchment area could worsen the situation, leaving farmers with little hope for their submerged crops without urgent government aid.
