Friday, August 25 2006 10:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Orissa worsened yesterday (Aug 24, 2006)with several overflowing rivers spilling into new districts requiring evacuation of people.

The flooded Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Brahmani, Mahanadi and some smaller rivers had inundated vast areas though the incessant rains continuing for the last four days had stopped.

The death toll in the third phase of heavy rains and deluge in the state rose to 18 with three deaths reported from Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Kandhamal districts, Revenue Control Sources here said adding the overall casualty figure this monsoon had gone up to 66.

"While the situation in Balasore and Bhadrak districts remained grim, the Baitarani and Brahmani rivers caused five breaches in Jajpur district affecting a population in five different blocks," official sources said.

The Subarnarekha, which had been causing havoc in Balasore district, was still rising and was flowing at 11.34 m at Rajghat against the danger mark of 10.36 m, while the Brahmani was slightly above the red mark (23 m) at Jenapur.

"The Mahanadi, which was discharging 8.43 lakh cusecs at Mundali at noon today, had inundated low lying areas in Athagarh and Banki subdivisions of Cuttack district. The Cuttack-Banki road had been cut-off due to inundation by the river near Debidwar," the sources said.