Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in Odisha remained under control on Tuesday despite heavy rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system, with 79 rescue teams deployed across affected areas and more than one lakh people impacted in Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapada districts, officials said.
The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance and coordinating relief and rescue operations as the low-pressure system continues to influence weather conditions over the state.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand and north Odisha continues to remain active over the same region. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to about 7.6 km above mean sea level.
The system is likely to move nearly northwestwards through Jharkhand and north Odisha during the next 24 hours, the IMD said.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph are likely in some districts of Odisha on Tuesday. Following the forecast, district administrations in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada have been advised to remain alert.
Flooding has affected parts of Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapada districts.
In Bhadrak, 75,432 people in 70 villages under 18 Gram Panchayats of Tihidi and Chandabali blocks have been affected.
In Jajpur, 21,010 people in 41 villages under 15 Gram Panchayats of Bari, Binjharpur and Dasarathpur blocks have been affected. As many as 67 relief camps are currently operational in the district.
In Kendrapada, 5,475 people across five blocks, one urban local body, 11 wards, 35 Gram Panchayats and 64 villages have been affected. Thirteen relief camps are operational in the district.
Heavy rainfall has also affected parts of Kendujhar, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts. In Nabarangpur, nine blocks have been affected and 1,622 people have been evacuated and shifted to relief camps. Another 660 people have been evacuated in Koraput.
The state government has deployed 79 rescue teams for prompt rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
The teams include 28 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team and 50 Fire Services and Emergency Services teams.
Officials said the teams have been kept ready to respond to any emergency arising from flooding, waterlogging or further deterioration in weather conditions.
Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 17.5 mm during the last 24 hours, with the highest rainfall of 162.2 mm recorded in Barkot block of Debagada district.
Four blocks recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall, while nine blocks and one urban local body received rainfall between 50 mm and 100 mm.
The state has also recorded significant excess rainfall this month. From August 1 to August 25, Odisha received 344.4 mm of rainfall, against the normal of 287.1 mm, registering a 20 per cent surplus.
From June 1 to August 25, the state received 1,100.6 mm of rainfall, against the normal of 831.5 mm, which is 32.4 per cent above normal.
The state government has released Rs 170.30 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in different phases for the management of relief camps and other emergency response activities in flood-affected areas.
The government has also supplied essential materials to affected districts, including 1,35,725 polythene packets and 1,587.56 metric tonnes of cattle feed.
District administrations have been directed to remain prepared to deal with any emerging situation and take steps to address waterlogging and localised flooding in low-lying areas.
Officials have also been asked to closely monitor roads and underpasses and remain alert to possible damage to vulnerable structures and kutcha roads.
People have been advised to move to safe locations during lightning and remain updated with weather-related information.
The SEOC is maintaining round-the-clock coordination with all District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs) and monitoring the situation closely.
Officials said the overall situation in the state remained under control, while the administrations in vulnerable districts continued to remain on alert.
