Basudevpur: Two horses have been on the rampage in the Basudevpur area of Bhadrak district, terrorising people, as more than 20 individuals have been bitten by the horses over the past 15 days.

The horses have been roaming freely in Basudevpur market and surrounding areas and entering shops in search of food.

It remains unclear whether they are aggressive due to hunger or exhibiting some other abnormal behaviour.

One of the horses has been in the area for nearly a month, while the other arrived recently. However, their origin remains unknown. Despite repeated attempts, local authorities have failed to capture the horses. The Forest Department, Animal Husbandry Department, and municipality have not taken effective action, leading to growing frustration among residents.

Concerns regarding public safety have been raised during a road safety awareness meeting attended by District Collector Dilip Routaray, MLA Ashok Kumar Das, and police officials.

When questioned, Municipal Executive Officer Sudhanshu Mohan Swain stated that steps would be taken to capture the horses with the support of relevant departments.

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Soro: In yet another incident of tragic end to a failed love affair, a youth allegedly murdered a woman in broad daylight at Lingapada under Soro Municipality in Balasore district Monday.

The victim was identified as Jyotirmayee Rana, 25, daughter of Manoranjan Rana of the village.

According to sources, the accused, Biswaranjan Kuanr, had been harassing Jyotirmayee after she refused his marriage proposal. The victim was working for a private company in Bangalore but had returned home two months ago.

When she was alone at home Monday, her throat was slit in a gruesome attack. When her family members returned, they found Jyotirmayee lying in a pool of blood. They rushed her to Soro Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Soro police reached the spot and began an investigation. Jyotirmayee had filed a complaint at Soro police station two days ago against a young man from Chudamani village, under Basudevpur police limits, for harassing her.

It is suspected that the man, enraged by her rejection, committed the murder. Soro police has registered a case (162/25) in this regard. The accused, however, was at large till the last reports came in.

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Basudevpur: The state government has planned for the construction of a modern fishing jetty at Adhuan-Chudamani ghat of Gamei river which flows in this block of Bhadrak district at an expense of Rs 60 crore.

The matter came to light after Basudevpur MLA Bishnubrata Routray undertook a field visit to the proposed site of the fishing jetty and held discussions with department officials, members of fishermen’s associations and local residents, Wednesday.

Routray said that a modern fishing jetty will be constructed at Adhuan-Chudamani ghat of the river at a plan outlay of Rs 60 crore. The fishing jetty will have permanent facilities for berthing and parking fishing boats and motor launches. It will also have a fish trading centre where fishermen can buy and sell their harvested fish. The construction of the jetty will benefit over 10,000 fishermen and the members of various fishermen’s associations and help them earn a better livelihood.

He said a proposal regarding construction of the fishing jetty has been sent to the Central government seeking its approval as the river flows into the sea.

Tehsildar Soubhagya Panda, district fisheries officer Prakash Nayak, block marine extension officer-cum- assistant fisheries officer Subham Ranbadia and assistant fisheries officer Lakshmirani Marndi accompanied the MLA during his visit.

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Basudevpur: A former sarpanch and senior BJD leader of Nuagaon panchayat under Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district has succumbed to injuries he had sustained February 20 during a political violence.

The deceased was identified as Bhagwan Chandra Nayak. According to reports, some Congress workers had allegedly attacked Nayak in his house over election issues.

He had sustained grievous injuries. A complaint was filed against four people. Nayak was first admitted to Basudevpur CHC and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital.

After treatment, he was discharged from the hospital. However, he again fell sick and was being taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed.

As the news of his death spread, hundreds of people staged protests in front of the police station Saturday, demanding immediate arrest of the accused.

They also blocked the road leading to the tehsil office, by laying the body of Nayak. However, the agitators relented after the police assured that action would be taken against the accused.

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Bhadrak: Hundreds of local residents Monday demanded bridges at some of the ghats and an approach road to Charbatia Bridge on Mantei River here in the district. A bridge which was constructed earlier at Charbatia ghat has no approach road, they alleged.

Lack of bridges have made it difficult to access the places of importance in Bhadrak.

“Words given by political leaders during elections are usually not kept and the politicians forget everything once the poll process is over. Charbatia bridge was constructed at a cost of crores of rupees, but it has remained unusable sans an approach road. At some places, residents use ropes to cross Mantei river,” many villagers stated.

Also read: Minimum temperature to rise by 3°C to 5°C: IMD

Such precarious situations are experienced everyday by people in Basudevpur and Chandbali Assembly constituencies of Bhadrak district. Charbatia ghat connects Tihidi, Chandbali and Basudevpur blocks in the district. Besides, Choudhury ghat connecting Dhamra-Chandbali and Matiasahi ghat connecting Basudevpur-Tihidi also do not have bridges. People depend on ferries round the year to cross Mantei river. Development has eluded the residents, they added.

Similarly, villagers also cross Baitarani, Brahmani and Mantei rivers amid fear of crocodiles. Panchutikiri ghat is crucial for residents of Chandbali block. A bridge at Tinitara ghat would facilitate road connectivity between Chandbali-Aradi-Kendrapara, the locals said.

Notably, this has become a main issue for partisan and non-partisan candidates ahead of the three-tier rural polls. On the other hand, local voters resented that the ruling party has not kept its words, so far.

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Padmapur: There was a time when opera lovers used to eagerly wait for his arrival on stage. Each of his dialogues would make the audience put their hands together. The area would reverberate with clapping sounds.

Cut to the present scene, he is now selling grocery items to feed his family members.

He is Deepak Kumar Mohanty (Deepu) – a resident of Damodarpur village under Balimed panchayat in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district.

Bit by acting bug in his childhood days, Deepak had been on the lookout for opportunities. The opportunity came his way in 1998 in form of an offer from Sahani Opera. He was then 23. And, there was no looking back for him.

Thereafter, offers started pouring in for him from different opera troupes. He has worked with Satasankha Opera, Dhauli Opera, Satchidananda Opera, Jatragaon Opera and Rangamahal Opera. In his career spanning 23 years, he has performed several characters. Be it a protagonist or antagonist, he has performed them to a tee.

‘Kie Kacha Puni Kie Kanchan’, ‘Mun Sei Bhadrakia Toka’ and ‘Badadandara Bhikari’ are among some of his well-appreciated plays.

Deepu’s family comprises of four members-his wife, two daughters and him. Till the outbreak of Covid-19, his life was going smooth. The pandemic affected all the sectors, including the opera houses in Odisha. Opera shows weren’t allowed to stop the spread of virus. Being out of work for long made a dent in his little savings.

“It was when Covid-19 situation started improving and government eased restrictions in phases, we the opera artistes were hopeful that opera parties would also be allowed to stage shows. But then came the second wave, dashing all our hopes to the ground. I found it very difficult to run my family. With no option left, I decided to open a grocery shop,” said Mohanty.

“I am more worried about the future of my two daughters. If the restrictions are not lifted, running the family will be a herculean task for me. I request the government to think about the hardships the artistes, technicians and others associated with opera parties are presently undergoing,” he added.

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Padmapur: The unseasonal floods in Mantei, Kanchudi and Dhala rivers flowing in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district has increased the woes of the cyclone Yaas-hit people in the riparian villages, a report said.

The rivers are in spate due to cyclonic storm-induced heavy rainfalls which lashed the district. As a result, Agapur, Saratarpur, Sanandpur in Padmapur panchayat, Kusunbindha, Kanjikhia, Kalyanpur in Sugo panchayat, Dadhibamanpur, Jagannathprasad, Mishrapur, Mamadila, Korbatia, Chhatrapur in Jagannathprasad panchayt have been submerged in floodwaters.

Similarly, Charbatia, Chhtarpada, Kalidaspur in Balimeda panchayat, Khantakhuada, Kuali, Kashipur, Andola, Goapalpur in Andola panchayat, SribatshapurJivanpur in Lakshmidaspur panchayat  and Havelisahi, Nandapatna  villages in Balamunda panchayat have also been inundated. There are no immediate signs of the water receding.

Farmlands in these villages have been submerged with three to four feet of water overflowing on them. The water level has failed to recede in these rivers as the sea surface continues to remain rough since the calamity struck the coast.

The people are having a harrowing time due to lack of essentials while government help has failed to reach them. Hundreds of kutcha houses have collapsed in these areas while the revenue department is yet to make an assessment of the losses.

The motor boat which is usually used to provide relief for rescue operations is lying defunct near the Mantei riverbank. As a result, relief and rescue works have been hit in the areas.

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Basudevpur: A sharp rise in floodwaters in Kansabansa and Gamei rivers in this block in Bhadrak district inundated six panchayats and six villages, a report said.

The floodwaters in these two rivers are rising for the last two days following which Sudarsanpur, Barandua, Narasinghpur, Adhuan, Chudamani, Sasubhuasuni panchayats have been submerged. Even villages like Basathi, Balibindha, Guagaon, Bhairavpur, Gopalpur, Panchirikhi villages under the civic body have been inundated.

Meanwhile, the floodwaters in Subarnarekha in Balasore district started receding after crossing the danger mark at Rajghat at Jaleswar. The floodwaters have started receding following a stop in the rainfall in the upstream in Jharkhand and the Galudihi barrage closing its gate. The decline in floodwaters has brought a sigh of relief to the residents who are battling to save their lives and properties.

People are having a harrowing time with floodwaters entering their houses and farmlands. As the floodwaters in Kansabansa are increasing large tracts in Jagannathpur and Padhuan panchayats have been submerged. The riparian villages remained marooned while the floodwaters entered houses in low-lying areas.

Fishermen and traders who have been carrying out fish and prawn cultivation in the islets of these two rivers have suffered terrible losses after the floodwaters submerged their ponds and gheries. Moreover, vegetable cultivation on hundreds of hectares near the riverbanks has been damaged.

The house of Narendra Samal in Bhairabpur village has been marooned after the floodwaters of Gamei river entered the area. Over four feet high floodwaters are flowing in the dumping yard of Basudevpur civic body.

The floodwaters have failed to recede as the excess rainwater from Soro, Simulia in Balasore district and Basudevpur area is discharged into the river. Moreover, the river has failed to discharge its excess water as it mouth remains closed due to rough sea surface.  Residents have urged the state government to intervene and compensate the affected people.

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Bhadrak: A woman who is eight months pregnant has staged a sit-in protest since Thursday in front of lover’s house at Tulamatula village under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district.

Chakara Jena, son of Babaji Jena and Rashmi (name changed) of Rajnagar area in Kendrapara district got into a relationship after becoming friends on Facebook.

They subsequently eloped one day and settled down in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. According to the woman, they had also exchanged married vows while staying in Vijayawada. They were living in a rented accommodation and she conceived after marriage.

A couple of weeks back, Chakara returned to his village, leaving Rashmi behind at the rented house. However, he failed to return. Sensing something amiss Rashmi also came back to Tulamatula village Thursday and went straight to Chakara’s house.

However, the family members of the ‘husband’ entered into a bitter argument with Rashmi. They blamed her for Chakara’s predicament and asked her to leave immediately. Chakara however was nowhere to be seen.

Rashmi however, was not ready to be cowed down. She staged a sit-in in front of Chakara’s residence. She said that she and Chakara are married and that he should take her in. She also said that she was pregnant. She is continuing with her protest at the time of writing this report.

The incident has attracted the attention of the residents of the village. Seniors are now contemplating the way to settle the matter amicably.

PNN

Padmapur: This season in the past years, being an opera artiste she would always be at rehearsal camps. This time around, she is selling tea from a roadside kiosk, erected with bamboo poles with a polythene sheet stretched over it.

The artiste in question is Runu Mohapatra, a resident of Baikunthapur village of Brahmanigaon panchayat under Basudevpur block in Bhadark district. She says it is the COVID-19 pandemic that has turned her to be a tea seller.

After coming to know about Runu, our correspondent visited her at her tea stall. She was giving the tea a nice stir in a pot. When asked on what prompted her to be a roadside tea seller, she retorted back the much heard reply “It is COVID-19 that has pushed actors, actresses and folk art performers to the brink,” she replied.

Runu said she started her career as an opera artiste with ‘Triranga Gananatya’. Later she joined ‘Konark Gananatya’ in 2002 and has still been associated with the troop. Over the years, she has performed a spectrum of roles starting from a dancer to a comedian.

“Konark Gananatya’s Badnam Heli Tori Pain, Kaincha Mali, Brahma Chandala, Akhi Abujhaku Luha Abujha and Dukha Deigala Daradi Bandhu are some of the plays that gave me great satisfaction. After every stage show we are eager to know audience’s reviews. And their reviews about my roles in the said plays were tremendous,”she asserted.

She and her husband Litu Mohapatra, who works as a manager for artistes, had to return to their village as staging of opera shows were not allowed following the outbreak of coronavirus and subsequent restrictions.

Back at home, her family comprises of a differently abled father Nishikant Rout, a sick mother Tapati and their daughter.

“While we are somehow able to meet the daily family expenses, the medicine cost of my parents keeps ailing me. We are earning Rs 200 to 300 per day from selling tea and snacks. I hope soon everything will become normal and we will again entertain people,” she said while attending some customers.

There was a time when people used to buy tickets spending hundreds and line up in long queues to watch their favourite opera artistes perform on stage. Now these artistes and technicians are jobless and are passing through a tough time. But for government financial help, their lives would only be more difficult,” she wound up.

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The body has been identified as that of Kailash Majhi (38).

Local people first spotted the body in the morning and immediately informed the police.  On reaching the spot, the cops brought down the body and sent it for post mortem.

Kailash had been working in Bangalore. It had been only a few days since he returned home. According to a source, he had a spat with his younger brother and uncle the day before.

Meanwhile, the police are yet to connect the dots to ascertain the circumstances that led to his suicide.

The deceased’s wife, however, alleged he had been murdered somewhere else and then the miscreants hanged the body to pass it off as a suicide case.

Registering a case, the police have launched a probe into the incident considering various angles including the murder one. They said the post mortem report would provide them a lead to further the investigation.

PNN

Padmapur: Farmers of Melaksahi area under Padmapur panchayat under Basudevpur block in Odisha’s Bhadrak district Monday donned engineers’ hat and repaired the sluice gates of the check dam built across the Kanchudi River. The check dam was constructed 20 years ago.

Farmers of Padmapur, Sugo, Edtal, Lunga panchayats under Basudevpur block and Sahada panchayat in Bhadrak block largely depend on this sluice gate for irrigation. In rainy season, the sluice gate not only helps store rain water but also control flood.

Four of the seven sluice gates of this 20-year-old dam had developed holes caused by rust resulting in the farmers not being able to hold back the rain water. The villagers had then met the district collector and the officials of the irrigation department on several occasions urging their intervention but to no avail.

Owing to lack of water, these farmers were facing a lot of problems in continuing with their agricultural activities which is why they were apprehending a drought like situation.

The farmers finally stepped forward and decided to do something on their own. Spending over Rs 30, 000, they bought bamboo poles and finally succeeded in checking the flow of water.

“Now we can use the stored water in agriculture,” observed the exalted farmers.

But for the cooperation from all the farmers and the villagers, the job could have never been possible, opined some locals namely Dhaneswar Nayak, Muktikanta Nayak, harekrushna Nayak, Subash Nayak, Prashant Nayak and Sukadev Nayak who led the team from the front.

PNN

Basudevpur: Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Janaki Das who is presently working at Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district was caught by Balasore range Vigilance team Friday afternoon for allegedly taking bribe.

Also read: Revenue official arrested for taking bribe

She was allegedly receiving Rs 3,000 as bribe from a temporarily appointed driver Rajkishore Nayak of her own office, on the pretext of passing his four month’s pending salary.

A senior official of the Vigilance team and Balasore range Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) SK Samantaray and Bhadrak DSP DC Murmu seized the bribe money from her. A personal car (OD-22Q 0404) of the CDPO was also seized in this connection.

Notably, driver Nayak has been working at her office for the past several years. He informed the Vigilance department when Das demanded money from him.

Reacting to this, the CDPO said, “The driver was returning back the money that he had borrowed from me a few days ago. I have not received anything as bribe for passing the pending salary. This is rather a conspiracy which he has framed to tarnish my image.”

PNN

Padmapur: A teacher was put behind bars for blackmailing a female colleague with her obscene photos. The incident was reported from Basudevpur in Bhadrak district.

The man was produced in a local court Monday morning and was sent to jail as his bail plea was rejected.

The teacher has been identified as Chakradhar Sethy, a resident of Kismatkrishnapur village. However, it is yet to be ascertained if the accused and the lady teacher were of the same school.

Sources said that the accused had clicked some photographs of the lady teacher. With the possession of these photos, he had been blackmailing the teacher. It was when he sent those photos to her in-laws’ house that the lady teacher lodged an FIR at Nayakanidihi police station.

Taking the case seriously, the police swung into action. Registering a case (Case No-74/2020), the police arrested the teacher.

The incident has created a furore in the town here.

PNN

Padmapur: A tractor driver from Sana Kalidaspur village under Balimeda panchayat in Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district Sunday got on top of an overhead water tank and threatened to commit suicide by jumping off the tank.

The man atop the tank was identified as Shiba Prasad Mallik, a resident of Kantigadhia village.

Some villagers initially spotted Shiba standing atop the tank. When questioned why he had gone there, Shiba said he was going to commit suicide.  That said, he did not reveal the reason that was propelling him to take the extreme step.

The villagers immediately informed Nayakanidiha police station and fire department. After a while, policemen and personnel from the fire services department reached the spot. They tried their best to bring him down through cajoling and offering to meet his unaccomplished wishes, if any. But nothing worked.

Till last reports came in, Shiba continues to remain atop the tank leaving the police and fire department personal in a real quandary.

PNN

Bhadrak: Inmates of a number of quarantine centres in Bhadrak district staged sit-in protests Friday. They showed resent against the apathy meted out to them by the administration. At the time of writing this copy, inmates of quarantine centres in Sugo, Binayakpur and Adhuan panchayats under Basudevpur block are continuing with the remonstrations. So also are the inmates at the quarantine centre in Nandapur panchayat under Tihidi block.

Inmates have brought up several issues to narrate their tale of woes. Most of the inmates are migrant workers who have returned from outside their states. They said that they have been put in isolation for the past 15 days. However, swab samples for testing have not been collected even once during this period.

Inmates of the centres who are protesting have also boycotted breakfast and lunch. They have said that till their grievances are looked into, they will continue to fast.

Additional district medical officer (ADMO) Pradeep Khuntia however, clarified why samples have not been collected for testing. “Tests will be conducted only for outstation returnees who show symptoms of COVID-19 infections,” Khuntia said.

It should be stated here that the maximum number of coronavirus positive cases have been reported from Basudevpur block only.

PNN

Bhadrak: In order to keep the administrative machinery prepared to face cyclone Amphan in the district, Bhadrak administration has issued high alert in Chandbali and Basudevpur blocks.

Evacuation process has already started in these blocks. Keeping in mind the COVID-19 social distancing norms, arrangement for safe accommodation of denizens have been made in 14 shelter homes and 558 schools, out of 104 cyclone shelter homes here.

Fire brigade and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed in the high alert areas to face any eventuality.

Seventeen fire brigade teams are on toes across the district to assist in rescue operations. Denizens are being alerted through public address systems by the district administration.

According to IMD, as of Tuesday evening, the cyclone lies 480 km south of Paradip. It is expected to make landfall at Sundarban area in West Bengal-Bangladesh border Wednesday evening. That said, coastal districts of the state including Bhadrak are expected to be affected by heavy rains and winds.

Aradi: Continuing its fight against coronavirus, Bhadrak district administration sealed its borders and all the boat jetties Tuesday.

The move followed after Bhadrak was declared as a ‘deep red zone’. Aradi police sealed Bhadrak-Kendrapara border at Muan Ghat and Bhadrak-Jajpur border at Bodak. Tinitar and Dhanakhania boat jetties have also been sealed, putting an end to any scope of going out of the district.

When contacted, Aradi police station officer Pradeep Nayak said that they have been keeping a close watch to ensure none from the other districts enter Bhadrak.

Notably, Bhadrak district’s total tally stands at 19 with three reports coming positive for COVID-19 Monday. Of the three patients, two are from Basudevpur block and the other belongs to Bant block. All of them have West Bengal travel history.

Three more areas – Kismatkrushnapur and Chudamani of Basudevpur block and Charigaon panchayat of Bant block-have been declared as containment zones, taking the total containment zones in the district to 21.

PNN

Bhadrak: Out of the seven new cases Odisha reported Monday, three are from Bhadrak, taking the district’s tally to 19.

As per information shared by the Health and Family Welfare Department on its website, all the affected persons are male and they are 45 years, 28 years and 29 years old respectively. Of the three, two are from Basudevpur block and the other belongs to Bant block. All the patients have West Bengal travel history.

Since Bant block has received its first COVID-19 case, the district administration has intensified its fight against the invisible, deadly virus. However, the cause of concern is that all the cases are asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, the administration has declared Kismatkrushnapur and Chudamani of Basudevpur block and Charigaon panchayat of Bant block as containment zones, taking the total containment zones in the district to 21.

While all the entry and exit points have been barricaded, the residents have been asked not to come out of their houses until further orders. The district administration will help the residents in the areas coming under containment zones get their essentials at their doorsteps.

PNN

Bhadrak: The district administration sealed all the entry points to five panchayats of Tihidi and Dhamnagar blocks Saturday. The move came after four persons from these two blocks tested positive for coronavirus Friday.

Friday alone, reports of five patients came out as positive in Bhadrak district, taking the district tally to 16. Of the five, two each from Tihidi and Dhamnagar blocks and one from Basudevpur block tested positive.

The administration announced five panchayats of Tihidi and Dhamnagar blocks as containment zones.  Due to incessant rain, the entry points to these panchayats could not be sealed Friday. The district and police administration barricaded these entry points Saturday morning.

Kanpur, Sandakpur and Bamanabindha villages of Bamanabindha panchayat and Kamp, Kampadabindha and Talakampada villages of Kampada panchayat under Tihidi block are within the containment zone. Similarly, two villages of Kalyani panchayat, six villages of Khadapada panchayat, Uteipur village of Anandapur panchayat under Dhamnagar block have been sealed.

While four nodal officers have been given charges of these containment zones of two blocks, block development officers (BDOs) of these two blocks have been entrusted with the job of supervising all the procedures like contact tracing, sanitisation etc.

The villagers of these areas have been asked not to come out of their houses. Similarly, government and private educational institutions have been directed to close their centres.

Even though a 60-hour shut down is in force in the district, the villagers were in a state of panic after their villages were declared as containment zones.

The district administration sources said that aggressive contact tracing, sample testing and isolation have already started.

PNN