Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in northern Odisha has begun to show signs of steady improvement, even as a massive disaster relief operation remains underway to support more than 12.87 lakh people affected across six districts,The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil informed on Thursday.
Reduced rainfall over the past 24 hours has allowed water levels in major river systems to drop below their respective danger marks. However, low-lying regions—particularly in Baleshwar remain under close observation as officials coordinate rescue, evacuation, and rehabilitation efforts after floods in Subarnarekha peaked around 3 am. “In almost all major rivers, the water levels have decreased over the last 24 hours. The flood situation in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts, as well as the conditions in Baleshwar Sadar and Jaleswar areas, has shown significant improvement. In the next 12 hours, the levels will recede further, and our overall flood situation will improve,” the SRC stated.
At the Jenapur gauging station, the Brahmani River dropped to 21.38 metres against a danger mark of 23 metres. Similarly, the Baitarani River at Akhuapada receded to 17.98 metres (danger mark 18.33 metres), while the Budhabalanga at NH-5 fell well below its critical threshold to 5.76 metres (danger mark 8.13 metres). The Jalaka River also registered a decline, flowing at 6.28 metres against its 6.50-metre danger mark, Patil informed.
Explaining the surge at Rajghat, the SRC noted, “The water level in the Subarnarekha river had risen due to the release of water in Jharkhand. It reached its peak around 3 am last night, reaching 11.82 metres against the danger level of 10.36 metres. After that, it began receding.”
Central Water Commission (CWC) projections indicate the Subarnarekha will continue its downward trajectory toward 10.45 metres by 6 pm, he added.
Despite receding waters, the deluge has inflicted significant damage across 743 villages in 34 blocks. Out of the total 12.87 lakh affected citizens, an estimated 6 lakh have suffered severe impacts. “As of today, 84,667 people have been evacuated and accommodated in 185 relief centres, where cooked food is being provided to them,” the SRC confirmed, highlighting that rescue teams are heavily concentrated in submerged blocks like Baliapal and Bhograi.
Patil mentioned that Baleshwar is the worst-hit district, with around 28,000 people still marooned across 55 gram panchayats. Bhadrak experienced the second-highest impact with 1.90 lakh people affected across 36 panchayats, while Jajpur recorded 31,000 affected residents. In Kendujhar, conditions have largely returned to normal. To preserve livestock in inundated agrarian belts, the government has distributed 940 metric tons of cattle feed across Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Kendrapada since the onset of the spell on August 14.
With field officers and district collectors deployed, emergency crews have initiated repair work on damaged embankment and breaches along Baitarani and Salandi rivers as water levels retreat.
The SRC added that it may take another three days for floodwaters to recede completely in Baleshwar district.