Bhubaneswar: At least three people have died as floods in several parts of Odisha affected more than two lakh people in six districts, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said on Wednesday.
According to official data, as many as of 2,03,208 people in 748 villages spread over 233 gram panchayats, 44 blocks, six urban local bodies, and four wards have been affected by the floods.
Patil said altogether 27,967 people have been evacuated by the authorities to safer places, while 226 villages remain marooned. The floods have also claimed the lives of nine livestock animals.
Three deaths were reported in Kendujhar district. An elderly man died in a wall collapse, a child drowned and a fire services personnel on flood duty was electrocuted in the district, according to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
Worst affected is Baleshwar district, where 1,09,429 people across 378 villages in 12 blocks were affected. The district has reported damage to 654 houses, while 19,080 people have been evacuated. A total of 125 relief camps and 16,987 free kitchen beneficiaries have been recorded in the district.
Similarly, over 80,000 people spread across 220 villages in five blocks were affected in Bhadrak district. Around 5,330 people have been shifted to safer locations, while 220 villages remain marooned. The district is operating 41 relief camps, with 5,330 people receiving cooked food.
In Jajpur, 11,156 people have been affected in 75 villages. Rescue teams have evacuated 1,640 people, while floodwaters have damaged crops over 4,072 hectares. The district is running 20 relief camps, benefiting 3,807 people.
In Mayurbhanj, 2,487 people have been affected, 1,917 evacuated, and 87 houses damaged. Crops over 3,744 hectares have been affected, and 25 relief camps are operational, serving 1,518 people.
Sambalpur has reported 88 affected people, with seven houses damaged and one relief camp functioning for 70 beneficiaries.
Floodwaters have damaged crops over 7,901 hectares and 761 houses across the affected districts.
The state government has set up 212 relief camps and is providing cooked food to 27,712 people. Officials said rescue and relief operations are continuing in the affected areas and the administration is closely monitoring the flood situation.
Emergency relief measures include distribution of rice, chuda, gur, cattle feed, and polythene sheets, along with deployment of ODRAF, NDRF, and Fire Service teams across affected areas.
Officials said rescue and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing, with a focus on Baleshwar, Bhadrak, and Dhenkanal, where water levels remain high.
The SRC has directed district administrations to maintain round‑the‑clock monitoring and ensure timely assistance to flood‑hit residents.
