Bhubaneswar: Over 7.85 lakh people have been affected by floods across six districts of Odisha, with more than 1,300 villages hit and relief and rescue operations intensified in the affected areas, according to the latest status report released by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Monday.
The report said 7,85,199 people have been affected in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Kendrapada districts. In all, 1,304 villages, 448 gram panchayats, 66 blocks and 10 urban local bodies have been affected by the floods.
Baleshwar has emerged as one of the worst-affected districts, with more than 2.03 lakh people affected. The district has reported flooding in 453 villages and 97 gram panchayats. As many as 61,418 people have been evacuated, while 103 relief camps have been opened to provide shelter and assistance to those affected.
In Bhadrak, around 1.96 lakh people have been affected across 134 villages and 39 gram panchayats. The district administration has evacuated 1,07,773 people and opened 90 relief camps.
Jajpur has also reported extensive flood impact, with 2,02,672 people affected across 270 villages and 117 gram panchayats. Around 77,680 people have been evacuated, while 191 relief camps have been opened in the district.
In Kendrapada, around 1.44 lakh people have been affected, with 134 villages and 63 gram panchayats reporting flood-related impact. As many as 2,085 people have been evacuated from affected areas.
The floods have also caused extensive damage to agricultural land across the affected districts. According to the consolidated report, crops over 42,216.7 hectares have been affected.
The flooding has also damaged residential houses. A total of 941 houses have been reported damaged across the six districts, while polythene sheets have been distributed to 1,079 affected people/families as part of relief measures.
Relief arrangements have also been stepped up in the affected areas. The report said 1.5 quintals of rice, 1,950 quintals of chuda (flattened rice) and 782.8 metric tonnes of cattle feed have been provided or arranged for relief operations.
To strengthen rescue and relief efforts, 53 fire personnel/teams, 39 ODRAF teams and seven NDRF teams have been deployed in the affected areas.
The administration has been focusing on evacuating people from vulnerable locations, providing food and shelter to those displaced and restoring essential services in the flood-hit areas.
With the flood situation continuing to affect lakhs of people across six districts, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and intensifying relief and rescue operations in the worst-affected areas.
