Odisha remains caught in a relentless monsoon spell, with incessant rain triggering repeated flooding across northern districts and leaving lakhs of people displaced.
With the IMD forecasting more rain, an Orange Warning has been issued for four districts and Yellow Warning for 14 districts, keeping the flood situation under close watch.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) warned of a flash-flood risk in 11 districts, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rain in parts of northern Odisha through August 17 and in western districts until August 15. Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and several other districts have been affected by the latest spell of rain.
In Mayurbhanj, flooding in the Budhabalanga river submerged several areas of Betanati block, affecting 16 gram panchayats and inundating farmland, roads and villages.
Near the Nakhara bridge, about three feet of floodwater was flowing over the old and vulnerable structure, bringing traffic on the busy Baishinga-Manatri-Udala road to a halt. Vehicles were stranded on both sides of the flooded stretch.