BHADRAK: Even before the residents of river-side villages in Bhadrak district could come to terms with the first disaster, another flood in the Baitarini river has hit them hard. While over 100 villages have been affected, one person was swept away. The deceased, identified as Amarmani Barik (20) of Jalahari village was swept away while crossing the road near Chaturi. Another person accompanying him, Kathia Das of Kanjiapal village, was saved by the locals. Barik’s body was fished out later.Sources said the second phase floods have affected nearly 112 villages in four blocks of Dhamnagar, Bhandaripokhari, Bont and Tihidi. People in the river-side villages are a scared lot following incessant rains in its catchments. Floods in the Baitarini’s tributaries like Reba, Kapali and Genguti have inundated large tracts of paddy fields. Vehicular communication to remote areas of the district has been snapped as the flood water is flowing over the roads near Balipada, Dularpur, Jarada and Sohada. Over 20 villages, including Husnabad, Astak, Banabag, Anal adiha, Sailo, Mamadula, Muktanagar, Mathasahi, Balipatana, Daspari, Dakhinakul and Pangata have been marooned.Meanwhile, the district administration has engaged three motorboats for relief and rescue operations. Dhamnagar MLA Rajendra Das has visited the flood-hit areas and ordered hastening of relief operations. “We have asked the BDOs and tehsildars to visit the affected villages and meet the requirement of the flood-hit. Damage assessment is underway,” said ADM Debendra Mohapatra. Meanwhile, the administration pressed six boats - four for Malada and Solampur areas and two for Naami panchayat into service following the demands.
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