Baitarani, Salandi Rivers Overflow; Flood Situation Worsens in Bhadrak, NDRF and ODRAF Deployed

Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Odisha’s Bhadrak district has turned critical as the Baitarani and Salandi rivers continue to swell following incessant rainfall, inundating vast areas and disrupting normal life.

Officials said the Baitarani river is flowing well above the danger mark. At the Akhupada gauge station, where the danger level is fixed at 18.33 metres, the river has surged to over 20.43 metres, raising concerns of further flooding. The Salandi river has also crossed the danger level, affecting several parts of Bhadrak town.

The rising water has submerged large stretches of Bhandaripokhari block, with at least 10 gram panchayats—including Jhuntuna, Balipokhari, Ranjit, Solampur, Malda, Napang, Korigaon and Bandal Manjuri—bearing the brunt of the floods. Road communication between Bhandaripokhari and neighbouring Jajpur district has been severely disrupted.

The impact has also been felt in Dhamnagar block, where seven panchayats have been affected by overflowing river water. Authorities have stepped up preparedness measures to deal with the worsening situation.

To strengthen rescue and relief efforts, three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in the vulnerable blocks of Bhandaripokhari, Dhamnagar and Tihidi.

Flooding has also spread across Bhadrak municipality, with nearly 20 wards affected as the Salandi river continues to rise. More than 10 panchayats remain waterlogged, while several low-lying localities, including Jayantara, Mahapatra Sahi and Katikata Taraisahi, are facing severe inundation.

In Katikata Taraisahi, floodwater has reached nearly six feet in some areas, and water is reportedly flowing around two feet above the main river embankment, prompting authorities to maintain close surveillance and urge residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.