Bhubaneswar, July 29 (UDN): Even as Odisha continues to receive heavy rainfall across several districts, the State government on Tuesday maintained that the overall flood situation remains under control, with rescue, evacuation and relief measures being stepped up in vulnerable areas.
Addressing a press conference, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said authorities are keeping a close watch on river levels and weather developments while ensuring that emergency response teams remain on standby.
The Minister said Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 47.2 mm during the last 24 hours, significantly above the seasonal average. Eight blocks reported rainfall exceeding 200 mm, with Nilagiri in Balasore district receiving the highest precipitation at 239 mm. Over the past eight days, the State has recorded 84 per cent excess rainfall, he added.
Heavy rainfall continues to affect districts including Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Jharsuguda, while several northern and southern districts have also experienced intense showers.
On the river situation, Pujari said that only the Jalaka River has crossed the danger mark, while the Mahanadi, Baitarani and Salandi are flowing below critical levels despite rising water levels. Rivers such as the Brahmani and Budhabalanga are hovering around warning levels but are not expected to breach the danger mark as rainfall intensity has reduced in many parts of the State.
Regarding the Hirakud Dam, the Minister informed that only two gates are currently open, and around seven lakh cusecs of water are expected to pass through Naraj without posing any significant flood threat.
To deal with the evolving situation, the State has deployed Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services personnel in flood-prone districts including Sundargarh, Balasore and Bhadrak, while National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams remain on alert for any emergency.
Evacuation efforts have already been intensified in vulnerable pockets of Sundargarh and Bhadrak, where several families have been stranded due to inundation. District administrations have also started distributing cooked meals and other essential supplies to affected residents.
“We are evacuating people wherever necessary, and district administrations have made arrangements for cooked food for those shifted to safer places,” Pujari said.
The Minister further stated that medical teams, emergency personnel and relief materials have been positioned across vulnerable districts to ensure a swift response if the situation worsens.
With the India Meteorological Department forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places until Wednesday, the government has urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain alert and follow advisories issued by local authorities.
Officials said continuous monitoring of river systems and weather conditions will continue over the next 24 hours to ensure timely response to any emerging flood threat.