New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Amid severe flooding that has affected over 8.34 lakh people across 20 districts in Odisha, damaging civic infrastructure, more than 1,300 houses in the northern parts of the state and large stretches of cropped land, the Union government has approved the advance release of Rs 500 crore as the second instalment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the state for the financial year 2026–27.
Taking to his official X handle, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the timely support, noting that it would bolster the state’s rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts, aid affected families and help restore normalcy in the flood-hit area.
This came on the day when Chief Minister Majhi conducted an aerial survey to assess the flood situation across more than 12 blocks in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, and Kendujhar districts. While the floods have impacted nearly eight lakh people and forced the evacuation of 2.69 lakh residents to safer locations, he noted that conditions are steadily improving and should normalise within the next two days. He further stated that Rs 26 crore had been released from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for rescue and relief operations.
According to an official statement issued on Saturday, this allocation of Rs 500 crore for Odisha is part of the Rs 2,117.85 crore in advance funds approved by the Central Government to help seven flood-hit states manage the monsoon season. “To ensure timely availability of funds for relief operations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the advance release of the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF to Himachal Pradesh and Odisha,” the statement said.
Himachal Pradesh has been allotted Rs 193.95 crore.
Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Nagaland have already received the first instalment of the Central share for the 2026-27 financial year.
The Centre has also cleared the advance release of the first instalment for Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 44.55 crore), Assam (Rs 379.35 crore), Gujarat (Rs 500 crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 500 crore) after relaxing documentary requirements under the relevant guidelines, citing the urgent need for funds for relief work. “With this approval, a total of Rs 2,117.85 crore has been made available to the flood-affected states to strengthen their ongoing relief and response measures,” the statement added.
Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) have already been sent to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to assess the damage. In Assam, two IMCT visits have already been undertaken in view of the severity of the flood situation, it said, adding, “On request of the Government of Nagaland, an IMCT is being constituted for the state.”
The statement also said the Centre has been monitoring the flood situation closely in coordination with state governments since the start of the monsoon.