Major rivers in spate, 15 villages inundated

PARADIP: Around 15 villages in Jagatsinghpur district, including Balikuda, Nuagaon and Tirtol blocks have been affected with water level in the Devi, Paika, Chitrotola and the Mahanadi rivers flowing above the danger mark.“Around 10,000 villagers from Brahmanigaon, Sunamuhni, Tarashai and Bakagol in Nuagaon and Balikuda blocks have been marooned with overflowing water gushing in,” said Sub- Collector Murlidhar Mallick.At Daleighai, water from the Devi river touched the 57.40- foot mark, the danger point being 57 feet.The situation was worse at Machgaon where water flowed at 14.70 feet, against the red mark of 13 feet.In Tirtol block, water flowed at 12.50 feet, 1.75 feet above the danger mark. Consequently, vast stretches of agricultural lands have been inundated.Evacuation operations are yet to be undertaken.To aggravate the situation, a spurt in price of essential commodities, especially of kerosene, has also been reported, with a litre being sold at Rs 50.Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department has embarked upon a damage control measure with repair works at vulnerable points along the embankments underway. The administration is also monitoring the recently repaired points along the embankments.However, panic-stricken villagers have started shifting to safer places in the district.