Bhubaneswar: More than 13.5 lakh people in ten districts of Odisha have been affected by floods and heavy rain since August 13, officials said on Wednesday.
Describing the overall situation as stable and under control, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said the administration is now keeping a close watch on the situation in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts.
In its latest report, the SRC office said that 91 blocks, 604 Gram Panchayats and 1,895 villages have been affected by the flood and rain between August 13 and 26. The administration has intensified monitoring in areas facing rising river water levels, waterlogging, breaches and communication disruptions.
While the overall situation in the affected areas is now stable, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur continue to remain under close watch.
Nine blocks in the three districts are presently affected by floods. Five blocks in Kendrapada, two in Bhadrak and two in Jajpur have reported flooding.
As many as 80,284 people in 189 villages under 68 Gram Panchayats have been affected. As many as 87 free kitchens are currently providing cooked food to people in the affected areas.
The administration has deployed 57 teams for rescue and relief operations. These include 21 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams and two Police/Civil Defence/local teams.
Authorities are maintaining close surveillance over breaches on the left bank of the Baitarani River at Anandapur in Kendujhar district and on the right bank of the Baitarani-Kani river system at Tarapada Gram Panchayat in Jajpur district.
Alternative communication arrangements are being made in affected areas of Anandapur Municipality and Jirang in Kendujhar, as well as Tarapada Gram Panchayat in Dasarathpur Block and Naubanka village under Jari Gram Panchayat in Binjharpur Block of Jajpur.
As per the latest report, Jajpur has reported the highest number of affected people among the three flood-hit districts. Two blocks, 20 Gram Panchayats, 64 villages and 50,142 people have been affected in the district.
In Bhadrak, two blocks, 18 Gram Panchayats, 70 villages and 25,432 people have been affected.
In Kendrapada, five blocks, 30 Gram Panchayats, 55 villages and 4,710 people have been affected.
Rescue and evacuation operations have continued across the affected areas. So far, 41,761 people have been rescued, while 76,051 people have been evacuated by boats.
Connectivity has been restored to 775 isolated villages, while 215 people have been evacuated for emergency medical treatment. Altogether 210 boats have been deployed for rescue operations.
The state recorded an average rainfall of 3.2 mm during the 24 hours preceding 8:30 am on August 26. Bamra Block in Sambalpur district recorded the highest rainfall of 49 mm.
Kakatpur in Puri recorded 47 mm, while Rourkela Municipal Corporation received 33.6 mm. Khairput in Malkangiri and the North Zone under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation recorded 33 mm each.
Between August 1 and 26, Odisha received 347.7 mm of rainfall against the normal average of 298.6 mm, marking a surplus of 16.4%.
During the current monsoon season, from June 1 to August 26, Odisha received 1,103.9 mm of rainfall, which is 30.9% above the normal average of 843 mm.
As many as 21 districts have recorded above-normal rainfall, while the remaining nine districts have received normal rainfall. No district has so far recorded deficient or scanty rainfall.
Relief operations have been stepped up in the affected areas. On Wednesday, 25,720 people were provided with cooked food, taking the cumulative number of people served cooked meals to 5,25,396.
The administration has distributed 1.5 quintals of rice, 6,346.76 quintals of chuda and 632.01 quintals of jaggery. A further 429 polythene sheets/rolls were distributed on Wednesday, taking the cumulative distribution to 10,519 sheets/rolls.
Relief shelters have been equipped with drinking water, sanitation, lighting and medical facilities. Special arrangements have also been made for children, pregnant women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Flooding has affected 8,611 tube wells and 245 PWS projects. Of these, 5,816 tube wells and 144 PWS projects have been restored or disinfected.
The administration has supplied 76 water tankers and 10,28,264 bottles/pouches of drinking water. Six mobile water treatment units have also been deployed.
Flooding has affected 73,495 electricity consumers, with restoration of power supply underway.
In Jajpur, 18 health centres/areas have been affected. Eighty-four medical teams and 53 medical camps are currently operational, taking the cumulative number of medical camps to 159.
As many as 33,653 people have been treated so far. Authorities have reported 304 cases of diarrhoea/vomiting and 49 snakebite cases.
As many as 327 pregnant women have been shifted to health facilities, while 99 institutional deliveries have been conducted. Adequate stocks of medicines, ORS, IV fluids and anti-snake venom are available.
Approximately 1,02,481.5 hectares of paddy crop have been affected, along with 5,60,356 livestock and 56,983 poultry birds.
Through 98 veterinary teams and 242 camps, 25,230 animals have been treated and vaccinated. The administration has supplied 1,587.56 metric tonnes of cattle feed. In all, 41 animal deaths have been reported.
Flooding has affected 88 roads and bridges, while dewatering and disinfection of contaminated water caused by waterlogging are underway at 26 locations. No telecom tower has been affected.
In Telkoi Block of Kendujhar, NH-49 has been disrupted. As many as 104 of the 217 district/rural roads and two bridges have been damaged.
A total of 279 villages have been cut off from communication in the affected areas. Alternative connectivity arrangements have been put in place, while restoration and repair works are underway.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said there was no shortage of rescue forces, food, safe drinking water, medicines or relief materials anywhere in the State. The administration was fully prepared to mobilise additional resources as required and urged people to strictly follow safety guidelines and take necessary precautions to protect their lives and property, he said.
