Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will undertake an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar and Kendujhar districts at 10 am on Saturday to review the extent of damage and assess the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil will accompany the Chief Minister during the aerial inspection.
The visit comes as the flood situation continues to remain severe across several parts of the state. Earlier on Thursday, Pujari conducted an aerial assessment of the affected regions in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kendujhar along with Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee and SRC Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.
Following a review of the situation, the minister on Friday said floodwaters have affected 57 blocks across 15 districts. According to the latest assessment, 446 gram panchayats, 1,362 villages and 174 wards under 11 urban local bodies have been impacted.
A total of 7,91,846 people have been affected by the floods, with 2,68,943 people still stranded in inundated areas. Rescue and relief operations are continuing on a war footing, the minister said.
The state government has opened 647 relief centres to accommodate displaced residents. Both cooked meals and dry rations are being provided to those affected, and the assistance will continue until floodwaters recede. The government has also arranged cattle fodder at 20 locations to support livestock in the flood-hit regions.
Preliminary estimates indicate that standing crops over 21,380 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged. The floods have also caused damage to around 700 houses, according to the initial assessment.
The state administration is continuing to monitor the situation closely while deploying personnel and resources to ensure relief reaches affected communities and to expedite restoration efforts in the worst-hit areas.
