Indus Valley Times

By Akshay Rout

Jajpur/Odisha, Sep 7 : In a hands-on display of leadership during an emergency operation, Water Resources Department Superintending Engineer Dr Ratnakar Dalai on Sunday waded into nearly 30 feet of water to oversee and encourage workers engaged in repairing a major breach in the Baitarani river embankment at Tarapada in Jajpur district.

Wearing a life jacket, Dr Dalai entered the deep, fast-moving waters and spent considerable time alongside workers involved in the high-risk operation to plug the breach. A video of the engineer working with the labourers subsequently went viral on social media, drawing appreciation for his direct involvement in the challenging repair work.

The emergency operation near the Gurudar Brahmachari Patana bridge has been continuing on a war footing since Friday. More than 500 workers have been mobilised at different stages of the operation to contain the flow and restore the damaged embankment.

The breach, estimated to be around 33 metres wide, occurred in a waterlogged stretch where the depth of the water is nearly 30 feet. Workers equipped with life jackets have been placing earth and other materials to close the opening and strengthen the embankment.

Officials said nearly 80 per cent of the repair work had been completed, with only around 10 metres of the breach remaining. Assistant Executive Engineer Antaryami Mahanti said the remaining portion was expected to be plugged by Monday.

The repair operation is being carried out round the clock, with generators being used to facilitate work during the night. More than 200 experienced workers, along with heavy excavators, tractors, trucks and mechanical engineering teams, are currently engaged at the site.

The urgency of the operation has increased in view of the possibility of fresh rainfall in the upper catchment of the Baitarani, particularly in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, around September 9. Champua in Keonjhar recorded around 35 mm of rainfall on Sunday, resulting in a marginal rise in the river level.

Officials said the increased flow was expected to reach Tarapada only by Tuesday, giving the repair teams a crucial window to complete the work. Contractor Rajesh Kumar Mahapatra expressed confidence that the breach would be fully closed before the additional flow reaches the site.

Dr Dalai said the department was making all-out efforts to restore the embankment to its pre-breach condition by September 9.