Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday conducted an aerial survey to review the flood situation in several affected districts.
According to sources, the Chief Minister made the aerial survey over severely affected districts such as Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur.
Majhi was accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) during the inspection.
The aerial survey assumed significance as the flood situation reportedly worsened in the state following the opening of 22 gates of the Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur to release excess water from the reservoir. As a result, water levels started rising again in the Mahanadi River and its tributaries.
Several villages in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts remain marooned and completely cut off from neighbouring areas. Affected people encountered severe difficulties, particularly expressing fear of crocodiles and snakes entering submerged localities.
Similarly, around 250 villages across 100 panchayats in Jajpur district have been affected by the flooding, impacting nearly one lakh people.
Meanwhile, water levels have receded in some parts of Bhadrak district which allowed locals to return to their homes. Residents were seen rebuilding kutcha houses and drying their belongings under the sun, though conditions in many other areas remain grim.
The Revenue Minister has directed district Collectors to strengthen flood response measures and submit detailed damage reports within three days
Authorities have been asked to prioritise life-saving evacuations, provide police protection for vacant homes, and deploy medical teams with anti-venom stocks to prevent snakebite casualties.