Heavy rains have triggered floods in the Baitarani river inundating vast areas in three districts of Orissa, affecting 1 lakh people, official sources said on Wednesday.
The flood water from the river, which was flowing above its danger mark at two points, has affected a population of 1 lakh people in 20 panchayats under three blocks of Jajpur district, putting the administration on high alert.
The sources said the swirling waters had seeped through weak points on the embankments at two places in Dasarathpur block of Jajpur district inundating large stretches of agricultural land and encircling many villages.
While 10 panchayats of Dasarathpur block had been affected, six panchayats of Jajpur block and four panchayats of Korei block had also been inundated.
"These areas are only inundated and the people faced no immediate danger," official sources said.
The floods also affected some areas in Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts though details were still awaited, they said.
The Baitarani was steady at 39.80 mt against its danger level of 38.36 mt at Anandapur in Keonjhar district, while it was flowing at 17.99 mt against the red mark of 17.83 mt at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district.
Irrigation authorities said the river could rise further.