Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Monday assured that the state government is fully prepared and actively working to manage the flood situation in the northern parts of the state, particularly in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts.
Addressing the media, Pujari said, “The state machinery has been mobilized and all concerned departments are working in coordination to handle the situation effectively. Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of the people affected by the rising water levels.”
He stated that more than 1,100 people have already been evacuated from low-lying and vulnerable areas.
Temporary shelters have been set up with arrangements for food, clean drinking water, medical assistance, and other basic amenities, the Minister added.
Special focus is being given to vulnerable groups such as children, women, and the elderly, he said.
The Minister mentioned that water levels in major rivers such as the Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga are being closely monitored, and alerts have been issued for sensitive zones.
“We are expecting water inflow from Jharkhand and neighboring regions, and necessary precautions have been taken. Rescue and relief teams, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire services, are on standby,” he added.
The Minister also said that ODRAF teams have been deployed at vulnerable locations in Keonjhar, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj, and two additional ODRAF teams have been sent to the Balasore district.
Fire services personnel are engaged in rescue operations in waterlogged villages, he added.
Minister Pujari emphasised that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is personally monitoring the situation and receiving hourly updates.
“We are in constant touch with district collectors and local administrations. Additional NDRF teams are ready to be deployed if needed,” he said.
Appealing to the public to remain calm, the Minister said, “There is no need to panic. We request people in affected areas to follow instructions from local authorities. The state government is committed to providing every possible support during this crisis.”
Minister Pujari, along with Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, reviewed the flood conditions during a high-level meeting here.
Pujari told reporters that the water level in the Budhabalanga river has gradually been receding, while the water level in the Subarnarekha river is slowly rising.
He expressed confidence that the flood situation will improve soon as rainwater in the rivers is being discharged into the Bay of Bengal smoothly due to favorable sea conditions.
Additionally, rainfall in upstream areas has stopped, while downstream areas are experiencing light rainfall, he said.
He informed reporters that the people evacuated from low-lying areas have been provided with dry and cooked food and other relief materials by the administration since Sunday.
According to reports, several low-lying villages are waterlogged in Basta block of Balasore and the Udala area in Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha.
