Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday issued a high alert for Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, and Kataka districts following a medium-level flood threat in the Mahanadi River as water discharge at Munduli barrage reached 8.65 lakh cusecs by noon.
The alert followed a comprehensive review of the flood situation by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, alongside the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department and the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC). The officials also conducted an extensive aerial survey over severely impacted districts, including Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Kataka.
Addressing a presser, the Minister said that while water levels in almost all other rivers have receded below the danger mark, the Mahanadi continues to witness rising floodwaters, with around 8.65 lakh cusecs flowing through the river at present. Flood discharge at Mundali had peaked at 8.88 lakh cusecs on Thursday evening before easing slightly.
Pujari expressed hope that the situation would improve over the next 24 hours as weather conditions are expected to remain largely dry, with only light rainfall likely in two or three districts on Saturday.
He further informed that the floods have hit 57 blocks, 446 gram panchayats, 1,362 villages, 11 urban local bodies, and over 70 municipal wards across the 15 affected districts, impacting nearly 7.91 lakh people. Over 2.68 lakh residents remain marooned in flooded villages, and approximately 700 houses have sustained damage. The agricultural sector has taken a heavy hit, with standing crops across 28,943 hectares submerged.
Jajpur district has reported the highest number of embankment breaches, while seven embankment breaches in total have been recorded statewide, with repair operations slated to begin as soon as waters recede.
“Initial reports indicate that around 28,943 people have been displaced or evacuated, and over 21,380 hectares of crop land have sustained damage,” Pujari stated.
To assist the affected populace, the state administration has opened 647 relief centres to provide cooked meals, dry rations, baby food, cattle feed, and medical support specifically tailored for the elderly, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Tactical teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Odisha Fire Services have rescued and evacuated over 1,800 people and stranded livestock to safety. “Relief centres will remain operational in all affected areas until the floodwaters completely recede from submerged villages and people are able to return to their homes and light their kitchen fires. We strongly advise people not to take any unnecessary risks by driving or wading through four feet of floodwater. Human life is precious. We urge elderly citizens, women, and children to move to the nearest relief centres and remain there until conditions improve,” the Minister said.
Providing an update on river water levels, the minister noted that water levels in major rivers, including the Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Vansadhara, Rushikulya, Devi, and Pushpabhadra—, ave started falling below danger marks following bright sunshine over the past 24 hours. On the Mahanadi river system, two more sluice gates were opened at Hirakud Reservoir, taking the total to 14. “Around 1.5 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged from Hirakud, which will take approximately 40 hours to reach Mundali and Naraj,” Pujari explained, adding that the Water Resources Department is conducting round-the-clock monitoring.
To address agricultural distress, joint survey teams from the Revenue and Agriculture Departments will begin field damage assessments within 72 hours once floodwaters drain. “Farmers who have lost their standing crops should not lose heart or panic. This government is your government and stands firmly beside you during this challenging time. Whatever compensation is permissible under government norms will be provided. In addition, we are arranging short-duration seed packages—ranging from 30-day to 75–80 day crop varieties—to help farmers re-sow their fields quickly,” Pujari assured.
Beyond immediate relief, the state administration is taking preventive public health and infrastructure measures. Teams from the Public Health and Panchayati Raj departments are working on a war footing to repair damaged tubewells and borewells, while distributing chlorine tablets, bleaching powder, and lime to sanitise drinking water sources.
Pujari advised residents to consume only boiled or purified water to avoid waterborne illnesses and warned citizens to remain vigilant against snakebites as waters retreat.
Looking toward long-term disaster resilience, the government has directed departments to identify schools, primary health centers, and Anganwadi centres prone to waterlogging, promising state financial assistance to raise their floor elevations or build additional stories. The Minister also revealed plans to construct high-capacity, multi-storey flood and cyclone relief shelters with reinforced foundations in low-lying pockets where local housing remains vulnerable to recurrent inundation.
