Yaas Cylone: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik conducts aerial survey of affected areas

BHUBANESWAR: Day after Cyclone Yaas hit north Odisha coast near Balasore, chief minister Naveen Patnaik conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on Thursday. The government is likely to come out with a preliminary damage assessment report later in the day.
Government authorities said the state is bracing for a medium flood in Baitarni due to heavy rainfall in its catchment. “Heavy rainfall induced by #CycloneYaas in Baitarani catchment caused huge inflow. …Expecting medium flood in Baitarani. Well prepared to meet contingent situations,” part of a tweet by special relief commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena reads.
Jena said people are being evacuated wherever required. Baitarani has crossed danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, government authorities said. Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts are on alert for the possible flood.
Water resources department chief engineer Jyotirmay Rath said water level in Baitarani may further increase due to rain in the upper catchment. Water level in other rivers such as Budhabalang, Salandi and Subarnarekha, however, is below the danger mark, he said.
More than 100 villages in Balasore and Bhadrak remain marooned. In around 15 villages in Chanbali block, one of the worst hit areas, are waterlogged. NDRF and ODRAF personnel were helping in Public transport in some areas of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts are disrupted as roads have been submerged.
More than 200 mm rainfall were recorded in many areas such as Joda in Keonjhar district 268.6 mm, Joshipur (Mayurbhanj) 254.8 mm, Lathkara (Sundargarh) 213 mm, Jhumpura (Keonjhar) 212.2 mm.
Agriculture minister Arun Sahoo said the government has asked the officials concerned to assess damage to agriculture and horticulture and submit a preliminary report by Friday.
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