Three Odisha Districts face flood threat as rivers in spate

Three Odisha districts, Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur, were on Saturday (July 26, 2025) put on high alert as swelling rivers are likely to cause floods following heavy rain over past two days.

Baitarani and Jalaka rivers are flowing over danger mark at three gauging stations and it was apprehended that the water level in two rivers would rise further.

District collectors of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur have begun evacuation of people facing inundation while District-level officials have been asked not to go one leave.

Some pockets of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are also likely to witness flash flood as heavy rain has been forecast for Sunday (July 27, 2025).

The water level of Baitarani at Swampatna was measured at 311.60 metre as against danger level of 311.1 metre and the river had crossed danger mark of 38.36 metre at Anandpur by noon on Saturday. At Akhuapada gauging station, the water level was inching towards danger level after crossing warning level.

Similarly, Jalaka River was well above danger level of 6.50 metre at Mathani Road Bridge as river was flowing at height of 7.20 metre by noon.

Under the influence of depression over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining Jharkhand, orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain has been predicted for district of Sundargarh.

Though excess water was being discharged through 20 gates of Hirakud Dam there was no immediate threat of flood in Mahanadi River System. Villages flanking Brahmani River would not face any threat of flood, said Water Resource Department.