Heavy rainfall in Odisha has triggered severe floods, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and affecting over 2 lakh individuals across 748 villages in six districts. The districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur in northern Odisha have been worst hit, with Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur also severely impacted.
According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, the three reported deaths are from Keonjhar district. A fire service personnel died due to electrocution, an elderly person died in a wall collapse, and a child was swept away in the rain. More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in the affected districts.
Major rivers such as the Baitarani, Salandi, and Jalaka are overflowing, with water levels exceeding the danger mark at several locations. As many as 226 villages remain marooned, with authorities working to evacuate residents to safety. Special care is being taken to ensure the well-being of the elderly, women, and children at flood relief centers.
The administration has been put on high alert, with over 60 teams of the NDRF, ODRAF, and fire service personnel deployed in the affected districts. Three senior IAS officers have been assigned to assist the district administration in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur. Leave for government officials has been canceled in the affected districts.
The chief minister has reviewed the situation, and the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Malkangiri have also been affected by heavy rainfall. Schools and anganwadi centers in 10 districts have been ordered to remain closed.
A moderate flood is expected in the Mahanadi river system due to heavy inflows from the upper catchment, potentially affecting Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, and Cuttack districts. The Water Resources Department has reported that the water level in the Hirakud reservoir stood at 616 feet, with around 9 lakh cusecs of water likely to be released at Mundali in Cuttack district by Thursday evening, triggering a medium-range flood.
