Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg chaired a high-level review meeting at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office in Bhubaneswar to assess the state’s flood situation, preparedness, and disaster management response.
The review was prompted by a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining West Bengal and North Odisha coast, which is expected to intensify and bring heavy rainfall across several regions over the next few days. The India Meteorological Department placed Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar in the red warning zone, with heavy rainfall expected to persist through August 18 before beginning to subside.
The current spell of flooding has impacted 49 blocks, 331 gram panchayats, 947 villages, and 5 urban local bodies across the affected districts, impacting approximately 5.15 lakh people. Authorities have evacuated 2.37 lakh citizens to safer locations and operationalized 293 relief camps providing dry food, cooked meals, and essential supplies.
Field rescue operations are being led by 36 ODRAF teams, 7 NDRF teams, and 43 Fire Services units. State statistics indicate that Odisha recorded 953 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 16, which is 27 percent above the normal average of 759 mm for this period, although districts like Nabarangpur, Gajapati, and Kalahandi received comparatively lower rainfall.
To strengthen district-level flood management, senior administrative officers have been assigned directly to key areas, with IAS officer K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy overseeing Balasore, IAS officer P. Anvesha Reddy overseeing Jajpur, and Revenue Commissioner Sudhansu Mohan Samal aiding Bhadrak.
Leave for officials in all affected districts has been canceled until conditions normalize. Meanwhile, various departments have implemented emergency measures. The Health Department has dispatched medical teams, Rapid Response Teams, essential medicines, halogen tablets, bleaching powder, and anti-snake venom to local hospitals.
The Energy Department deployed extra personnel to restore electricity to nearly 75,000 affected consumers as floodwaters recede. The Housing and Urban Development Department is clearing drainage and delivering drinking water via tankers, while the Animal Husbandry Department distributed 5,000 quintals of cattle feed alongside operating veterinary camps. Continuous round-the-clock monitoring of river embankments is underway, with sandbagging utilized to control potential breaches and plans prepared for rapid embankment repair once water levels drop.
Fishermen have been strictly advised against venturing into the sea during this three-day period. Additionally, following reports of citizens gathering on riverbanks to watch floodwaters and take photos or selfies, the Chief Secretary instructed District Collectors to launch public awareness campaigns using loudspeakers to advise people to keep a safe distance from rising river currents.