Bhubaneswar: The flood and rainfall situation in Odisha remains under control, although Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts continue to remain under close watch, according to the latest report of the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
Between August 13 and August 26, incessant rainfall and flooding affected 91 blocks, 604 Gram Panchayats, 1,895 villages and 13,50,306 people across 10 districts.
The situation arising from rising river water levels, waterlogging, breaches and communication disruptions in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Kendrapada has been closely monitored and managed, the report said.
As of 8:30 AM on August 26, Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 3.2 mm over the previous 24 hours. Bamra block in Sambalpur recorded the highest rainfall at 49 mm. Kakatpur in Puri received 47 mm, followed by Rourkela Municipal Corporation with 33.6 mm, Khairput in Malkangiri with 33 mm, and the North Zone under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation with 33 mm.
The State recorded 347.7 mm rainfall between August 1 and August 26, which was 16.4% above the normal average of 298.6 mm. During the monsoon season from June 1 to August 26, Odisha received 1,103.9 mm of rainfall, 30.9% above the normal average of 843 mm.
Twenty-one districts have recorded above-normal rainfall of 19% or more during the monsoon season, while the remaining nine districts have received normal rainfall. No district has so far recorded deficient or scanty rainfall.
According to the latest report, nine blocks in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur are currently affected by floods. Five blocks in Kendrapada, two in Bhadrak and two in Jajpur are affected, impacting 80,284 people across 189 villages under 68 Gram Panchayats.
A total of 87 free kitchens are currently providing cooked food, while 1,02,481.5 hectares of agricultural land have been affected. Fifty-seven response teams have been deployed, comprising 21 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams and two Police, Civil Defence or local teams.
Authorities are closely monitoring breaches on the left bank of the Baitarani River at Anandapur in Kendujhar and on the right bank of the Baitarani-Kani river system at Tarapada Gram Panchayat in Jajpur.
In Kendrapada, five blocks, 30 Gram Panchayats and 55 villages have been affected, impacting 4,710 people. Bhadrak has reported flooding in two blocks, 18 Gram Panchayats and 70 villages, affecting 25,432 people. In Jajpur, two blocks, 20 Gram Panchayats and 64 villages have been affected, with 50,142 people impacted.
Rescue and relief operations have so far resulted in 41,761 people being rescued and 76,051 people being evacuated by boats. Connectivity has been restored to 775 isolated villages, while 215 people have been evacuated for emergency medical treatment. As many as 210 boats have been deployed.
On August 26, cooked food was provided to 25,720 people, taking the cumulative number of beneficiaries to 5,25,396. Relief supplies distributed so far include 1.5 quintals of rice, 6,346.76 quintals of chuda and 632.01 quintals of jaggery. A total of 10,519 polythene sheets or rolls have been distributed, including 429 on Wednesday.
Relief shelters have been equipped with drinking water, sanitation, lighting and medical facilities. Special arrangements have also been made for children, pregnant women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Flooding has affected 8,611 tube wells and 245 PWS projects. Of these, 5,816 tube wells and 144 PWS projects have been restored or disinfected. Seventy-six water tankers and 10,28,264 bottles or pouches of drinking water have been supplied, while six mobile water treatment units have been deployed.
Power supply has been affected for 73,495 consumers, with restoration work underway.
In Jajpur, 18 health centres or areas have been affected. Eighty-four medical teams and 53 medical camps are currently operational, taking the cumulative number of medical camps to 159. A total of 33,653 people have received treatment, while 304 cases of diarrhoea or vomiting and 49 snakebite cases have been reported.
As many as 327 pregnant women have been shifted to health facilities, while 99 institutional deliveries have been conducted. Authorities said adequate stocks of medicines, ORS, IV fluids and anti-snake venom are available.
Flooding has affected 88 roads and bridges, while dewatering and disinfection of contaminated water caused by waterlogging are underway at 26 locations. No telecom tower has been affected.
Agricultural losses include around 1,02,481.5 hectares of paddy crop. Flooding has also affected 5,60,356 livestock and 56,983 poultry birds. Through 98 veterinary teams and 242 camps, 25,230 animals have been treated and vaccinated. Authorities have supplied 1,587.56 metric tonnes of cattle feed, while 41 animal deaths have been reported.
Alternative communication arrangements are being put in place in affected areas of Anandapur Municipality and Harichandanpur in Kendujhar, as well as Tarapada Gram Panchayat and Naubanka village in Jajpur.
In Telkoi block of Kendujhar, NH-49 has been disrupted. A total of 104 of 217 district and rural roads and two bridges have been damaged. As many as 279 villages were cut off from communication. Immediate alternative connectivity arrangements have been made, while restoration and repair work is underway.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said there is no shortage of rescue forces, food, safe drinking water, medicines or relief materials anywhere in the State. He said the administration is prepared to mobilise additional resources as required.
People have been advised to follow safety guidelines and take necessary precautions to protect their lives and property.
