Bhubaneswar, August 26: The overall flood and rainfall situation in Odisha remains under control, although authorities are maintaining close surveillance in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts where rising river levels, waterlogging and breaches continue to pose challenges.
According to the latest State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) report issued at 11 am on Wednesday, incessant rainfall between August 13 and 26 has affected 91 blocks, 604 Gram Panchayats, 1,895 villages and 13,50,306 people across 10 districts.
Of these, the current flood situation is confined to nine blocks in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur, where 80,284 people in 189 villages under 68 Gram Panchayats have been affected. Authorities have deployed 87 free kitchens to provide cooked food to affected residents.
Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur remain under watch
Kendrapada has reported flooding in five blocks, affecting 30 Gram Panchayats, 55 villages and 4,710 people. In Bhadrak, two blocks, 18 Gram Panchayats, 70 villages and 25,432 people have been affected. Jajpur has reported flooding in two blocks, affecting 20 Gram Panchayats, 64 villages and 50,142 people.
The administration is closely monitoring breaches on the left bank of the Baitarani River at Anandapur in Kendujhar and the right bank of the Baitarani-Kani river system at Tarapada Gram Panchayat in Jajpur.
Alternative communication arrangements are also being established in affected areas of Kendujhar and Jajpur, including Anandapur Municipality, Jirang, Tarapada and Naubanka.
Over 1.18 lakh rescued or evacuated
Rescue and evacuation operations have remained a major focus of the administration. So far, 41,761 people have been rescued, while another 76,051 people have been evacuated by boats. Connectivity has been restored to 775 isolated villages, while 215 people have been shifted for emergency medical treatment.
A total of 210 boats have been deployed for rescue operations. The State has also mobilised 57 teams, comprising 21 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams and two Police/Civil Defence/local teams.
In Kendujhar’s Telkoi block, NH-49 has been disrupted, while 104 of 217 district and rural roads and two bridges have been damaged. As many as 279 villages were cut off from communication, though alternative connectivity arrangements have been put in place and restoration work is underway.
More than 5.25 lakh people provided cooked meals
Relief operations have continued across affected areas, with 25,720 people provided cooked food on Wednesday, taking the cumulative number to 5,25,396.
Relief materials distributed so far include 6,346.76 quintals of chuda, 632.01 quintals of jaggery and 1.5 quintals of rice. A total of 10,519 polythene sheets/rolls have also been distributed.
Relief shelters have been equipped with drinking water, sanitation, lighting and medical facilities, with special arrangements for children, pregnant women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Water, power and health services being restored
Flooding has affected 8,611 tube wells and 245 PWS projects, of which 5,816 tube wells and 144 PWS projects have already been restored or disinfected. Authorities have supplied 76 water tankers and more than 10.28 lakh bottles or pouches of drinking water. Six mobile water treatment units have also been deployed.
Power supply has been affected for around 73,495 consumers, with restoration work continuing.
Health services have also been strengthened in the affected areas. In Jajpur, 18 health centres or areas have been affected, while 84 medical teams and 53 medical camps are currently operational. So far, 33,653 people have received medical treatment.
Authorities have reported 304 cases of diarrhoea or vomiting and 49 snakebite cases. As many as 327 pregnant women have been shifted to health facilities, while 99 institutional deliveries have been conducted. Officials said adequate stocks of medicines, ORS, IV fluids and anti-snake venom are available.
Over one lakh hectares of paddy affected
The floods have affected approximately 1,02,481.5 hectares of paddy crop, besides impacting 5,60,356 livestock and 56,983 poultry birds.
Through 98 veterinary teams and 242 camps, 25,230 animals have been treated and vaccinated. Around 1,587.56 metric tonnes of cattle feed have been supplied, while 41 animal deaths have been reported.
State records above-normal monsoon rainfall
Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 3.2 mm during the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on August 26. The highest rainfall of 49 mm was recorded at Bamra in Sambalpur district, followed by Kakatpur in Puri with 47 mm.
Between August 1 and 26, the State received 347.7 mm of rainfall, 16.4% above the normal of 298.6 mm. During the monsoon season from June 1 to August 26, Odisha received 1,103.9 mm, which is 30.9% above the normal rainfall 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.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said there was no shortage of rescue forces, food, safe drinking water, medicines or relief materials anywhere in the State.
He said the administration was fully prepared to mobilise additional resources wherever required and advised people in affected areas to strictly follow safety guidelines and take necessary precautions to protect lives and property.
