Paika breaches embankment

PARADIP: Around 10,000 people of five panchayats under Tirtol block were marooned after river Paika breached its embankment on Saturday.A 30-foot breach in the embankment at Ukushai in Samantrapur panchayat under Tirtol block flooded six v i l l a g e s u n d e r t h e panchayat.Special Land Acquisition Officer Nrusingh Swain, who is monitoring relief works in Tirtol block, said the situation in Ranitola of Tirtol block was grim and the administration had asked the people of Katkota, Hansura and Balikani panchayats under Kujang block and Pogadeipur panchayat of Tirtol block to shift to safety.The flood situation in the district has assumed alarming proportions with all major rivers - Mahanadi, Devi, Paika, Beluakhai, Gobari, Hansua - flowing four to five feet above the danger mark.Flood water has inundated 20 panchayats of five blocks affecting over a lakh people and damaging crops in thousands of hectares of land.As low-lying areas have been inundated, the administration has shifted affected people to cyclone shelters and other safer places.Official sources said the Devi river is flowing at 61 feet at Daleighai, four feet above the danger mark of 57.At Machgaon, flood water is flowing at 16.70 feet against the danger mark of 13.Similarly, water was flowing at 27 feet at Sankheswer under Tirtol block while the danger mark is 22.75.At Allipingal, flood water is flowing at 13 metre against the danger mark of 11.Apprehending breach of the Daleighai embankment, 50,000 sand bags have been kept ready.The administration has stocked flattened rice, kerosene and medicines at all block headquarters to be provided to the flood-hit.Eighteen power boats and 10 country boats have been pressed for rescue operations.The authorities of Paradip Port Trust on Saturday evacuated their trucks from the NH stretch from Chandikhole to Paradip so that the road can be used by the flood-affected people of lowlying areas to set up temporary shelters.District Collector Narayan Chandra Jena said the situation was being monitored.