Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has instructed district collectors in flood-hit areas to submit comprehensive damage assessment reports within three days, paving the way for compensation to affected families.
Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Arabinda Padhee said the reports must cover crop losses, house damage and other destruction, adding that compensation would be released based on these assessments.
The latest flood status report shows Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar have borne the brunt of the deluge, with 50 blocks, 356 gram panchayats, 1,084 villages, 11 urban local bodies and 169 wards affected.
Official data puts the total number of affected people at 5,87,822, of whom 1,76,073 have been moved to safer locations. Twenty-one villages remain cut off, including 17 in Balasore and four in Kendujhar.
Bhadrak has emerged as the worst-affected district, with over 4.1 lakh people impacted and 99,246 residents shifted from low-lying areas. The district has 228 relief camps in operation.
Balasore follows with more than 1.46 lakh people affected and 28,231 evacuated, while Jajpur has recorded over 25,000 people affected and 20,544 rescued so far.
Agricultural land spanning 16,187 hectares has been submerged, with Jajpur bearing the highest loss at 11,497 hectares, followed by Mayurbhanj (3,754 hectares) and Kendujhar (936 hectares).
As many as 1,020 houses have sustained damage, with the highest number in Balasore at 654, followed by 278 in Mayurbhanj and 88 in Kendujhar. Officials also flagged a 20-metre breach on the left-hand embankment of the Kani river in Jajpur’s Anandpur Ring Road amid the heavy rainfall.
Several rivers in the state are flowing above the danger mark. The Mahanadi has risen at Naraj and Munduli in Cuttack following heavy rain and dam discharges, while the Baitarani is in spate at Bhadrak and Achuapada. The Jalaka river is also flowing above danger levels at Mathani in Balasore.
With the Hirakud reservoir water level touching 619.54 feet, authorities have opened two sluice gates to manage the discharge safely.
The state has set up 464 relief camps, distributing polythene sheets, food and safe drinking water to those displaced. Teams from the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services have been deployed for rescue and relief operations.
Around 1,310 livestock deaths have been recorded across the affected districts.
The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner has forecast very heavy rainfall in Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput, and heavy rainfall in Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balangir, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Malkangiri. The state recorded an average rainfall of 58.9 mm in the last 24 hours, with Bijepur block in Bargarh district logging the highest at 315 mm.
Authorities have advised residents to avoid flood-hit roads and follow official advisories as rescue, relief and restoration work continues.
