10,000 ha farmland waterlogged in Balasore

Though there is a fall in water level of Subarnarekha, poor drainage from low-lying areas has prolonged people's woes

- SUKANTA KUMAR SAHU @Balasore

PLIGHT of thousands of people in 28 gram panchayats remained critical as Bhograi, Baliapal and Jaleswar blocks of Balasore continued to be waterlogged notwithstanding a fall in the water level of Subarnarekha river on Wednesday.

This is the sixth time the district has been hit by floods, compounding the miseries of the people.

Over the past four days, floodwaters have wreaked havoc in more than 70 villages across the gram panchayats. At least 10,000 hectare of farmland is feared to have been waterlogged.

Though the Subarnarekha river was flowing at 9.19 metre on Wednesday evening, below the danger level of 10.36 metre, poor drainage of water from low-lying areas has prolonged woes of the villagers.