Plight of flood-prone people on the rise, despite receding water levels, mercy and compassion on danger Bhargbi

 Although the water level in the Meli and Bhargbi rivers flowing through Pipili is receding gradually, it is flowing well above the danger mark. The floodwaters from Madhipur and Kontikaz of the Meli River have been flowing over the road for three days at three places on the Pipili-Jatni road.

Pipili- Jatni Road

More than 20 villages of Kanti, Panidol, Bhartipur, Hatsahi, Poparanga panchayats have been affected by the flood waters of Melinadi. Most of the refugees are holding children, babies, cattle and cows in shelters while the refugees are still suffering from the hardships.

Many people are living under poor roadside shelters. More than 20 schools, including the headmaster's office in Pipili block, are under flood water.

The Bhargbi river, which is the most dangerous, was flowing above the danger mark even though the water level had dropped by about half a foot by Thursday evening. In Haripur, the danger signal of Bhargbi river is 12.095 meters, and till 5 pm, there is 13.2 meters of flood water.

Similarly, in Madhipur, the water level of Melinadi has decreased by about one foot, while the water level of Konti river has decreased by 8 inches. While the danger signal is 10.25 meters in Konti, by 5 pm on Thursday, there is 11.22 meters of flood water. In Madhipur, the danger signal is 11.405 meters while there is 12.10 meters of flood water.

In the last 2 days, more than 60 landslides have been controlled in both the riverbanks, but no landslides have occurred on Thursday. However, there is a threat to the banks of the river due to the overflowing flood waters in both the rivers.

A 24-hour vigil has been kept on the river bank by the water resources department and the administration. Villagers on the banks of the river are making processions on the river bank day and night.

The administration has provided cooked and dry food along with drinking water to the flood affected areas of 6 panchayats of Pipili block. Local MLA Rudrapratap Maharathi, Vidyo Rashmita Nath, Tehsildar Punam Mahapatra, Block Chairperson Devswini Nand, Vice President Prafulla Swain visited various areas of the flood affected Kanti Panchayat by major rubber boats and solved various problems of the affected.

The administration has arranged food and drinking water for 4,240 people who were completely flooded. Flood waters of Melinadi have submerged hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, while many villages are under water.

Since 12, the upper village has been cut off from the outside world, while the flood water has entered many houses. Paddy and vegetable crops have been severely damaged. Fish ponds have been completely submerged while flood waters have entered chicken farms in many villages.

However, Tehsildar Punam Mohapatra and Vidya Rashmita Nath have informed that all preparations have been made by the administration to move the affected area residents to a safe place on a war-time basis in case of a disaster. A 24-hour control room has been opened in Pipili block and tehsil.