Mahakalapara, June 19 (UDN): A 10-foot breach in a coastal embankment near Panikhia village under Nanjura panchayat in Mahakalapara block has led to widespread inundation of agricultural land after high tidal waves overflowed the shoreline on Wednesday.

Representational image

Following the breach, saline water entered farmlands through the damaged section of the embankment, submerging nearly 100 acres of cultivable land and triggering concerns over significant damage to the upcoming kharif crop.

Local sources said Panikhia, a tribal-dominated village located around one kilometre from the sea amid forested terrain, was affected by unusually high tidal activity associated with the new moon phase. The surge reportedly crossed the coastal stretch and weakened the embankment near the Devati Jaheri shrine before creating the breach.

Villagers said the sudden flooding has raised serious concerns about agricultural loss and soil salinity in the area.

“Saline water has entered our fields and there is fear that the standing and newly sown paddy crop will be badly affected this season,” said villagers Gurubha Hansda and Suna Marandi, expressing concern over the future of cultivation in the region.

Officials are expected to assess the damage and initiate repair measures to restore the embankment and prevent further seawater intrusion. Meanwhile, residents have urged immediate intervention to protect remaining farmland from further inundation.

The incident highlights the recurring vulnerability of coastal embankments in Kendrapara district to tidal surges, particularly during lunar phase-driven high tide events.