Bhubaneswar: The flood situation remained grim in Balasore district on Wednesday as the swollen Subarnarekha inundated more areas, affecting thousands of residents, marooning low-lying areas in Basta, Baliapal, Bhograi and Jaleswar blocks. The govt kept strict vigil on Subarnarekha’s increasing water-level, which has already crossed the danger level since Tuesday.The administration intensified relief and rescue operations in the affected areas, shifting people to relief centres and providing cooked food. Officials said around 60,000 people in nine gram panchayats of Baliapal block alone have been affected by fresh flooding.Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said the administration was on alert to tackle the situation. He said around 25 gram panchayats in Baliapal and Bhograi blocks have been affected so far. Engineer-in-chief of water resources department Dilip Kumar Rout said the flood situation is likely to persist till Thursday evening, with the river expected to witness peak flow later in the day.The water-level is expected to rise further, bringing more floodwater to these areas on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The govt anticipates that the water-level would start receding after Thursday evening.Budhabalanga and Baitarani rivers are also receiving floodwater, but officials said they are unlikely to create major problems as their water-levels are on declining. The situation in other rivers has improved.“At 1 pm, the water-level in Subarnarekha was 11.6 metres against the danger mark of 10.36 metres. It will flow above the danger-level till Thursday evening and then recede. The high flood submerged villages in low-lying areas of Balasore district on Wednesday,” said Dillip Kumar Rout, engineer-in-chief of the water resources department.He said officials would keep strict vigil on Subarnarekha and monitor the situation closely with field staff. “The situation in other rivers is improving and is unlikely to create any major issue,” he added.Rout said the water-level in Budhabalanga would also decrease. Baitarani has been causing repeated floods. “The inflow into Baitarani would also reduce. Rainfall has decreased drastically, so we expect the situation to improve. We would repair breaches in the embankments of Baitarani after the situation improves,” he said.The situation in Brahmani is also expected to improve. Floodwater is flowing below the warning level in the river, and there is no flood situation in Brahmani. “Similarly, the situation in Mahanadi is better now. Only two sluice gates of Hirakud reservoir are open,” Rout said.Saroj Pradhan, a resident of Baliapal, said people in the area have witnessed two floods in past two months owing to Subarnarekha. “Now, people will face more difficulties due to fresh flood,” he said.Rainfall was not significant in the state on Wednesday. Bhubaneswar recorded the highest rainfall at 16.5 mm.India Meteorological Department’s Bhubaneswar centre, in its evening bulletin, said light to moderate rain may occur at a few places in different parts of the state, including north Odisha.