Jharsuguda, Dec 9: A rupture in an ash pond at the thermal plant operated by the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) is reported to have caused the inundation of farmland with slurry in several villages in Jharsuguda district on Saturday.

According to available information, a 20-foot breach occurred in the No. 3 ash pond of the OPGC plant, resulting in the flooding of agricultural land in at least three villages, including Rengali in Lakhanpur. This event has caused panic among the local residents, as crops across several acres of land have allegedly suffered damage.

The breach led to the collapse of the ash pond wall, causing the toxic slurry to flood areas in the vicinity. While ash water inundated farmlands on the outskirts of Saradhapali, the slurry entered the village itself.

As the affected areas were submerged in slurry, fear gripped the local residents. Sources indicate that many individuals started preparing to evacuate the village with their belongings, reacting to the inflow of ash water.

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