Bhubaneswar: Persistent, heavy rains have caused major rivers, including the Baitarani, Salandi, Jalaka, and Indravati, to swell, submerging homes and farmland across both coastal and interior districts of Odisha.
Coastal regions like Jajpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Baleshwar are struggling alongside interior regions in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Koraput.
Rivers Swell In Odisha
In Bhadrak district, overflowing waters from Baitarani and Salandi rivers have left thousands of villagers marooned in Chandbali, submerging homes and vast swathes of farmland. Neighbouring Jajpur district also faces a heightened threat from the swollen Baitarani, stranding communities in several pockets. Affected blocks included Dasarathpur, Bari, Rasulpur, Binjharpur and Jajpur in Jajpur; Kendrapara, Aul, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Pattamundai in Kendrapada; Bhadrak, Tihidi and Chandbali in Bhadrak; and Bhograi and Baliapal in Baleshwar.
Further inland, continuous downpours have caused the Photango Nallah in Sarsara Panchayat of Sundaragada district to flood, inundating Sundardih village and severing connectivity. In Nabarangpur, torrential rain impacted 16 villages across six panchayats in Kosagumuda block, completely submerging agricultural fields and rural roads. Floodwaters from the Indravati also entered villages in Kalahandi’s Thuamul Rampur, Jayapatana, Kalampur, Koksara and Junagarh blocks, as well as Kotpad in Koraput and parts of Papadahandi in Nabarangpur.
Dasarathpur Hit By Fifth Flood Within 50 Days
Among the hardest-hit is Dasarathpur block in Jajpur district, which is currently enduring its fifth flood cycle in just 50 days. Fresh floodwaters from the Baitarani River entered the region before previous waters could recede, exacerbated by multiple embankment breaches along both the Baitarani and Kani rivers. Floodwaters are rushing into villages through an open breach near Dovabil Patana in Tarpada panchayat, while an older breach at Kantapada continues to channel water inward. Additionally, a 40-foot breach and a massive 100-foot breach along the Baitarani embankment near Jayantara Mahapatra Sahi have devastated the surrounding area. Water levels have reached three feet in affected villages of Kasapa, Tarpada, Malikapur, and Chachina.
The compounding flood events began on July 6 with the first breach at Kantapada, followed by a second surge on July 28, a third on August 8 that reopened repaired gaps, a fourth on August 14, and the fifth on August 23.
Hundreds of families have been unable to return to their homes for nearly 25 days, forcing many onto rooftops while others construct temporary tarpaulin shelters on top of the Baitarani embankment alongside their livestock and belongings. Women from Dovabil and Tarpada reported that they had only just begun clearing mud and debris from previous waves when new floodwaters washed through, threatening further destruction.
Car Swept Off Flood-Submerged Road
A car, negotiating a submerged road during heavy rain, was also swept off the road into the raging currents of the swollen Baitarani River near Tarbha on the night of August 25. Local villagers alongside fire and disaster response personnel navigated waist-to-chest-deep water with flashlights and ropes under pitch-black conditions to secure the car and rescue the two occupants.
Local authorities have cautioned commuters against attempting to cross flooded bridges or submerged roads, emphasizing the hidden dangers of strong undercurrents during monsoon flash floods.
Crocodile Attack & Sighting
Rising waters have also heightened wildlife risks. In Rajkanika, a resident was dragged into the fast-flowing Kharasrota River by a saltwater crocodile, prompting search-and-rescue efforts amid widespread panic along the banks. The victim has been identified as Pareshwar Behera of Gangadharprasadia village under Rajkanika block in Aali.
In Malkangiri’s Chitrakonda region, a crocodile was spotted moving along a hilly road, alarming commuters.
174 Schools Closed In Bhadrak, Jajpur
As a safety measure, Bhadrak and Jajpur administrations have ordered for closure of educational institutions on August 25. In Bhadrak, 81 schools across Bhadrak, Tihidi, and Chandbali blocks were shut, alongside an administrative mandate closing all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the district. The official notification issued by the Bhadrak administration emphasized: “In view of the prevailing flood situation and water logging in Bhadrak District, it is hereby ordered that the list enclosed Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) of different ICDS Projects, shall remain closed on 25.08.2026 (Tuesday) in the interest of the safety and security of the children. The concerned CDPOs shall ensure strict compliance with the above order and communicate the same to all concerned”.
Similarly, 93 schools across Binjharpur, Bari, Rasulpur, Dasarathpur, and Dharmasala blocks in Jajpur have remained closed.
To mitigate health hazards in waterlogged zones, emergency stockpiles of Anti-Snake Venom, bleaching powder, Halazone water purification tablets, and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) have been stocked across all flood-affected districts.
State Scales Up Mass Relief Operations
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the state is grappling with flood situations in several rivers due to heavy rains under the influence of back-to-back low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal. “The state has not witnessed such floods in nearly 40-50 years. All most all major rivers are in a spate, causing floods in northern, southern, coastal and western regions of Odisha. Assistance is being provided to the affected people through relief camps,” he said.
Official reports indicate that nearly 4.87 lakh people have been shifted to safer locations and emergency shelters. Relief operations have been scaled up with the deployment of 15 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 44 teams from the Fire and Emergency Services.
The state government has released ₹170.30 crore in phases from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to support relief and restoration work.