Floodwaters from the swollen Rushikulya submerged villages and disrupted road links in Ganjam; damaged homes, lost livelihoods, shortages of drinking water and demands for relief underline the challenges of recovery.
Sorada: Even as floodwaters begin to recede in parts of Odisha’s Ganjam district, the scale of destruction is becoming increasingly evident, with several villages and towns struggling to recover from the impact of exceptionally heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab.
Sorada block has been among the worst-affected areas, where the swollen Rushikulya river inundated several villages and cut off road connectivity. Nuagada and Suramani villages nearby Sorada town remained completely submerged for more than 24 hours, leaving residents with extensive losses of household belongings and other assets.
The flooding also hit small businesses and local livelihoods. Mini-bank outlets in the affected villages reportedly lost transaction records, equipment and other accessories, while vegetable vendors suffered losses as their stocks were washed away or damaged. Residents are counting losses running into lakhs of rupees, although the overall extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.
The aftermath has brought residents together in efforts to restore basic connectivity. In Bishnupur village, people have been seen repairing damaged roads through their own efforts. In Bhaliagocha, another severely affected village, residents were still waiting for relief assistance, according to ground reports.
Sorada recorded 503 mm of rainfall, adding to the severity of the flooding. Jahaada and Dashamaili villages have also been seriously affected.
The impact of the rainfall was severe in Asika, where the main market area was reportedly submerged under nearly 10 feet of floodwater. With water entering residential and commercial areas, people were forced to take shelter on rooftops to escape the rising levels.
The town hospital was also inundated, with the full extent of damage yet to be assessed. The flooding has disrupted normal life and raised concerns over the loss of goods, damage to property and the restoration of essential services.
Bhanjanagar continues to face a difficult situation, with parts of the town still under floodwater and agricultural fields in the surrounding areas remaining submerged.
Residents have raised concerns over inadequate relief supplies and the lack of drinking water. Even as water levels gradually fall, access to safe drinking water and other essential items remains a pressing concern for affected households.
The receding waters have left homes covered in layers of mud and silt. Families are now trying to clean their houses, salvage belongings and repair damaged structures. However, the condition of roads and other infrastructure continues to make movement difficult in several locations.
The slow pace of recovery has also triggered protests in parts of Ganjam. Families who lost their homes staged a road blockade at Bada Kodanda Chhak bypass road on Friday, demanding compensation and assistance.
The protesters claimed that 12 houses in Mashani Sahi had been swept away by floodwaters. They blocked the road to press for support for families left homeless by the flooding.
With water levels gradually falling, residents across the affected areas are now focused on cleaning their homes and surroundings and recovering whatever belongings they can. But damaged roads, destroyed household goods, losses to small businesses and agricultural land, and continuing shortages of essential supplies have made the return to normal life difficult.
For many families in Ganjam, the immediate challenge is no longer just escaping the floodwaters but securing drinking water, food, shelter and assistance to rebuild their live
