Bhubaneswar, Sept. 2 -- The flood situation in Odisha's Mayurbhanj has started to gradually improve as the water level of the Budhabalanga river showed a decline. People who took shelter in relief centres returned to their respective homes as the situation improved.

However, some riverside areas remained inundated due to the heavy flow of water in the Jambhira river in Rasgobindpur block. The flooding affected low-lying areas and agricultural land across parts of the district.

Hundreds of hectares of farmland in Betnoti, Badasahi, Baishinga and other low-lying areas were submerged following the rise in the Budhabalanga river.

According to the district administration, heavy rainfall was recorded across 19 blocks of Mayurbhanj. As many a...