Bhubaneswar: About 30,000 people have been affected by floods in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts, but the situation is fully under control, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said after conducting an aerial survey of the affected regions on Wednesday.
Accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, and Special Relief Commissioner Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, the Chief Minister assessed the situation from the air and later briefed the media at Lok Seva Bhawan.
According to the Chief Minister, 81 villages across 8 blocks in the three districts have been impacted. The affected blocks include Basta, Baliapal, Bhograi, and Jaleswar in Balasore; Dhamnagar and Bhandaripokhari in Bhadrak; and Jajpur and Dasarathpur in Jajpur. Of the 30,000 affected residents, 5,869 have been safely evacuated.
“Water levels in rivers like Subarnarekha and Jalaka in Balasore are receding. The situation is fully under control,” CM Majhi said.
He added that while flooding occurred in parts of Keonjhar and other districts, it did not cause significant damage.
To assist affected residents, the state government has established 16 free kitchens in Balasore, 10 in Bhadrak, and 3 in Jajpur, serving cooked meals to around 10,000 people. Relief operations, including food distribution, will continue for the next seven days.
The Chief Minister also stressed post-flood health precautions, especially preventing outbreaks of waterborne diseases like diarrhea. He directed local authorities to disinfect water sources and ensure adequate medical preparedness. In response to concerns about snakebites, health teams have been instructed to stock anti-venom and essential medicines.
For rehabilitation, CM Majhi instructed district collectors to assess losses to homes, livestock, and infrastructure and submit reports for swift compensation. He also emphasized prompt repair of damaged roads and availability of fodder for livestock.
In terms of rescue and response, 17 ODRAF teams and 13 fire service units have been deployed in Balasore. Bhadrak has one NDRF team, one ODRAF team, and 13 fire service units, while Jajpur has one ODRAF and 14 fire service teams on the ground.
