Bhubaneswar/Balasore, Sept 23: Over 50 villages were inundated in Odisha’s Balasore district on Wednesday following a 150-feet breach in the embankment of river Jalaka, prompting the administration to launch an evacuation drive.

Rescue work on

    Around 2,000 people living in low-lying areas of Basta block have been moved to safer places as the floodwaters entered 30 villages following the breach, Balasore District Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarty said.

    He said food and other essential items were being provided to the evacuees.

    “Heavy rain in the upper catchment area of Jalaka River has caused the flood and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed for rescue work,” he said.

    The water level of Jalaka River at Mathani was at 7 meters at 6 pm as against the danger level of 5.50 meters.

Road communication snapped

    Thousands of acres of paddy crop have been submerged, while road communication between Basta and Baliapal in the district snapped due to waterlogging, an official said.

    The police station and SDPO office at Basta have also been inundated, he said, adding, power supply was affected, too. PTI