Flood Fury Continues in Odisha Despite Falling Water Levels

Although the water level of the Subarnarekha River is receding in Balasore district, the misery of more than two lakh flood-affected people continues unabated. Several villages remain submerged, with residents struggling for food, drinking water, healthcare and safe transportation.

In Bhograi block, more than 120 villages across over 18 gram panchayats are still surrounded by floodwater. Around 200 families in Chakaishab village have reportedly remained trapped in water for nearly 20 days.

In Kusuda village, families like that of Annapurna Das are spending their days in fear, taking shelter on rooftops or staying surrounded by floodwater. Stored paddy and rice have been destroyed, leaving many families without food stocks. While lives have been spared, the floods have severely damaged their livelihoods.

With administrative assistance allegedly falling short of the needs on the ground, local social workers have stepped in to provide drinking water and dry food to affected residents.

The situation turned critical in Manunagar village when an ambulance and ODRAF team could not reach the area. After Dinabandhu Parida fell ill, local social worker Pintu Pal reportedly used his tractor to transport him to the main road, from where he was sent to hospital.

Subarnarekha Flood Devastates Balasore

The third wave of flooding in the Subarnarekha has also caused widespread damage in Baliapal and Jaleswar blocks. Thousands of hectares of paddy and vegetable crops have been submerged due to stagnant floodwater, causing extensive losses to farmers.

Livestock are also facing severe hardship, with many cattle reportedly left without adequate food. Several villages under Jamkunda panchayat remain cut off from the outside world.

Residents have alleged that power boats provided by the administration were suddenly withdrawn. As a result, people are being forced to either pay for country boats or risk their lives by wading through floodwater to travel.

Flood Situation Worsens in Jajpur

In Jajpur district, flooding in the Baitarani and its tributary Kani has severely affected 62 villages under 19 gram panchayats of Dasarathpur block.

Floodwater has entered agricultural fields again through breaches under construction in the Tarpada, Mallikapur, Kasapa and Jayantara panchayats, leaving large areas of farmland submerged.

As the water level has started to recede, the Water Resources Department has launched repair work at Dovabil Patana on a war footing. More than 200 workers are engaged in repairing the embankment using sandbags, dust, timber and bamboo.

Chandbali Faces Repeated Floods

Meanwhile, Chandbali block in Bhadrak district continues to reel under repeated flooding. Residents have reportedly faced four floods within a single month, worsening an already difficult situation.

Muan village in Chandbali remains waterlogged, while floodwater continues to flow over the Aradi-Muan Ghosara road. With road connectivity disrupted, boats have become the only means of reaching the village.

Residents were still recovering from the damage caused by the previous floods and trying to repair their homes when another wave of flooding struck. The repeated disasters have once again disrupted normal life and washed away hopes of an early return to normalcy.

Across Balasore, Jajpur and Bhadrak, the receding water levels have brought some relief, but the crisis is far from over. For thousands of affected families, the immediate challenges remain access to food, drinking water, healthcare, transportation and the restoration of their livelihoods.