Flood alert in four districts, 60 school boys rescued

With incessant rain raising water level in two major rivers, Odisha government on Friday asked collectors of four northern districts to keep a vigil on the situation, even as fire brigade personnel rescued 60 boys from a state run ashram school in Mayurbhanj district. "We have rescued 60 male students at an ashram school in Brahmangaon village. Flood water of Budhabalang river had encircled the school and hostel where they were staying. The children were trapped since last night," Bidhan Chandra Ray, block development officer of Bangirposi block, told PTI.

Due to heavy downpour for last two days, flood water of river Budhabalang submerged paddy fields under Bangiriposi block in Mayrubhanj district and about 200 families in ward number 7 of Baripada Municipality area were shifted to safe places.

The affected people were sheltered at three nearby schools, a district official said adding some low-laying areas have been inundated. However, water level has started receding as rain stopped on Friday evening, the official said. However, 15 villages under Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district, have been inundated due to flood water of Gangahada river, he said.

Meanwhile, special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra told reporters at Bhubaneswar that the district collectors of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhardak and Keonjhar have been asked to remain alert to eventualities. Appealing to people not to panic over the situation, Mohapatra said the districts along river Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalang have been put on alert.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Hirakud dam over Mahanadi river system today released first flood waters of 2013 after a ceremonial puja. The sluice gate no 7 has been opened now and more gates are likely to be opened to discharge more waters if necessary, dam officials said.

"It is obligatory to discharge water from the reservoir during this time to improve its retention capacity," said an official adding that heavy flow of water from the catchment areas prompted the dam authorities to release waters.