Bhubaneswar: Floodwaters from the Baitarani, Brahmani and Jalaka rivers have disrupted life for more than one lakh people across four Odisha districts.
Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj bore the brunt after heavy rain hit the upper catchment areas.
A deep depression over north interior Odisha and neighbouring Gangetic West Bengal triggered the downpour.
Over 23,600 residents had been moved out of low-lying areas to safer locations, according to reports. Nearly 500 villages have reported flood damage, and numerous homes have been destroyed.
A situation report from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office showed Balasore recording the highest rainfall among the affected districts, at 144.3 mm over 24 hours. The district lost 30 roads to flood damage, while 300 houses were destroyed in its Oupada block alone. Local authorities have set up 52 community kitchens to feed 8,646 displaced people.
The state government has assigned senior IAS officers to oversee relief work in the three worst-affected districts. Sudarshan Chakraborty will handle Balasore, Sudhansu Samal takes charge in Bhadrak, and P Anwesha Reddy will supervise operations in Jajpur.
Rescue and drainage efforts are underway with fire services, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, and municipal workers deployed to vulnerable pockets, including the Mahanal area. Continuous rainfall continues to slow down relief work, and officials say they are keeping a close watch on the unfolding situation.
On Tuesday, the government said it was fully prepared to tackle the flood situation triggered by continuous rainfall across the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a high-level review meeting to assess preparedness among all concerned departments.
The minister said the state government was working closely with district administrations to ensure people’s safety. He urged residents to stay calm, avoid panic, and make use of the assistance being offered by local authorities. He also asked all districts and departments to coordinate closely and stay alert.
Water levels in the Baitarani and Jalaka rivers crossed the danger mark at Anandapur and Akhuapada, the minister noted. Officials are also tracking rising levels in the Brahmani and Subarnarekha rivers at several points. Balasore recorded the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours, while parts of Bhadrak and Jajpur also saw heavy downpours.
Calling the next 12 hours critical, the minister ordered the Special Relief Commissioner’s office to stay operational through the night for round-the-clock monitoring. He directed officials to speed up evacuations from vulnerable and low-lying areas.
NDRF and ODRAF teams are already stationed in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur. Collectors and block-level officers have been told to remain on high alert. Police have stepped up night patrols, with women personnel deployed for the safety of women and children in affected areas.
The government said cooked food, drinking water and other essentials are available at all relief shelters. Police have also been asked to guard evacuated homes and belongings. Health, fisheries and animal resource departments have been placed on full alert, with cattle feed stocked for livestock protection. Anti-snake venom and related medicines have been positioned in flood-hit areas as a precaution against snakebites during the crisis.
The minister reaffirmed the administration’s readiness and asked people to stay vigilant without fear. He instructed officials to assess damages quickly and release compensation to affected families for houses and farmland, following existing norms.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Fire Services Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, and Water Resources Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma were among senior officials present at the meeting.
