Odisha flood 2026 Archives - Odisha Connect

Heavy Rain and Floods Disrupt Life Across Odisha

OdishaConnect — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:54:45 +0000

Heavy rainfall continues across Odisha, particularly in the northern districts, causing rivers to swell and disrupting normal life. Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar are among the worst-affected districts, with several areas witnessing flood-like conditions.

In Keonjhar, the water level of the Baitarani River has risen at Bhimkund. Traffic movement has also been affected at Jodiya Ghat after rocks fell from the hills. In Jajpur’s Dasarathpur block, the embankment of the Kani River in Tarpada panchayat suffered damage. Administrative teams are carrying out repairs on a war footing.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued warnings for heavy rainfall and possible flooding in several parts of the state.

In Bhadrak district, the Baitarani and Salandi rivers are flowing above the danger level near Akhuapada. Several areas of Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar blocks have been inundated. Water flowing over roads has disrupted connectivity to the famous Akhandalamani Temple. Despite the risks, devotees and locals have been seen moving through strong currents during the ongoing Shravan Monday.

In Balasore’s Basta area, the water level of the Jalka River is gradually receding, but the situation remains difficult. Around 100 houses in Basichukurai panchayat are still waterlogged, leaving residents unable to cook. Large areas of farmland have also been damaged.

The Panchalingeswar shrine has been closed after heavy water flow from Devagiri hills. Four priests and staff members are reportedly stranded there.

In Kendrapara district, floodwaters surrounded an Ashram School in Penthapala panchayat. Fire personnel rescued around 300 students who were stranded inside the hostel.

Floods have also affected western and central Odisha. In Sundargarh’s Bonai block, 17 families from Ghatposh village have been surrounded by water from the Rukuda Dam and are taking shelter on the road.

Meanwhile, more than 60 cattle stranded on an island in the Brahmani River in Kamakhyanagar, Dhenkanal district, were rescued.

Rescue and relief operations are continuing across the state as authorities closely monitor the flood situation and rising river levels.

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Odisha Begins Flood Damage Assessment as Over 8.63 Lakh People Affected; Compensation Process Underway

OdishaConnect — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:30:49 +0000

As floodwaters continue to recede across Odisha, the hardship for thousands of affected families remains severe. The Odisha government on Monday began the process of assessing flood-related damage, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced during a press conference.

The minister said officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments have started conducting field assessments to determine the extent of the losses. According to the preliminary estimate, the floods have caused damage worth ₹42.80 crore.

To support relief and rehabilitation efforts, the state government has already released ₹36.98 crore to district collectors. An additional ₹110 crore will be disbursed on Monday. The minister said damage assessment and compensation distribution will be carried out simultaneously to ensure prompt assistance to affected families.

The government has also earmarked ₹12.88 crore towards compensation for losses involving livestock and domestic animals, while ₹26 crore has been released for the operation of relief centres across the flood-affected areas.

Compensation for Damaged Houses

The Odisha government has announced the following compensation package for damaged houses:

₹1.20 lakh for a completely destroyed house.
₹6,500 for partial damage to a pucca (permanent) house.
₹4,000 for partial damage to a kutcha (temporary) house.
₹8,000 for a damaged hut.
₹3,000 for damage to a cowshed.

Crop Loss Assistance

Farmers whose crops have been damaged due to the floods will receive compensation based on the type of agricultural land:

₹8,500 per hectare for rain-fed (non-irrigated) agricultural land.
₹17,000 per hectare for irrigated agricultural land.
₹22,500 per hectare for perennial or long-duration crops.

Ex-Gratia for Loss of Life

The government will provide an ex-gratia assistance of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of each person who loses their life in the floods.

Additionally, ₹1.05 crore has been sanctioned as assistance for Fire Services personnel involved in flood relief operations.

Livestock Compensation

The government has also announced compensation for livestock losses:

₹37,500 for the death of a cow or other large cattle.
₹32,000 for a bull or buffalo.
₹20,000 for a calf.
₹4,000 for a goat or sheep.

Flood Impact Across Odisha

The current floods have affected 22 districts across Odisha. According to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department:

85 blocks and 15 urban local bodies have been affected.
656 gram panchayats and 1,458 villages have been inundated.
863,909 people have been affected by the floods.
267,301 people have been evacuated to safer locations.
The government has operated 529 relief camps to provide shelter, food and essential services to displaced families.

The state government said relief, rehabilitation, and damage assessment operations will continue until all affected families receive the necessary assistance.

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Hirakud Opens 10 More Gates as Reservoir Level Rises; Mahanadi Flood Situation Shows Signs of Improvement

OdishaConnect — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:15:03 +0000

With the water level in the Hirakud Reservoir continuing to rise due to heavy inflows from the upper catchment, authorities have opened 10 additional sluice gates, taking the total number of open gates to 12, to regulate the increasing water volume.

According to official data, the reservoir has been receiving over 3 lakh cusecs of inflow continuously for the past two days. As of 6:00 AM on Friday, the reservoir’s water level stood at 623.52 feet.

The reservoir was receiving an inflow of 3,69,322 cusecs, while only 65,543 cusecs were being released earlier. In view of the sustained inflow, the authorities decided to open 10 more gates. With 12 gates now operational, the total discharge has increased to over 2 lakh cusecs.

Meanwhile, there has been a slight improvement in the flood situation along the Mahanadi River. Water levels at Athagarh and Mundali in Cuttack district have started receding, providing some relief to residents in the flood-affected areas.

Officials said that while 8.80 lakh cusecs of floodwater was flowing through Mundali till late Thursday night, the discharge has now declined to around 8.73 lakh cusecs, indicating a gradual fall in the river’s water level.

Flood Situation Under Review

The Odisha government is closely monitoring the evolving flood situation. A high-level review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

District Collectors from the flood-affected districts joined the meeting through video conferencing and briefed the government on the ground situation. The meeting was also attended by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Water Resources Department.

The government reviewed the flood situation, reservoir management, relief operations, and preparedness measures to ensure timely response in the affected districts. Authorities continue to monitor river levels and reservoir inflows closely as rainfall in the upper catchment areas remains a key factor in the state’s flood management efforts.

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Odisha Flood Situation Worsens: Nearly 5.88 Lakh Affected, Over 1.76 Lakh Evacuated Across Five Districts

OdishaConnect — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:21:35 +0000

The flood situation in Odisha has turned more serious, with Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur emerging as the worst-hit districts, while Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar have also suffered significant damage. According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, the floods have affected 5,87,822 people across five districts, forcing the evacuation of 1,76,073 residents. The minister also confirmed three flood-related deaths.

After reviewing the flood situation, Pujari said extensive preparations have been made in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur in anticipation of rising water levels in the Mahanadi. He noted that the absence of heavy rainfall in the Chhattisgarh catchment area has provided some relief. The Hirakud Dam is currently at 620 feet, with two gates open, while water discharge is expected to reach nearly 9 lakh cusecs at Naraj by night. Floodwaters have already entered low-lying areas of Badamba and Athagarh.

In Keonjhar, the earthen coffer dam of the under-construction Kanupur Major Irrigation Project collapsed on Thursday morning, prompting authorities to open six radial gates and two depletion sluice gates of the main dam. Warning sirens were sounded, and residents in downstream areas along the Baitarani River were advised to stay away from riverbanks as flood fears intensified.

The situation has also worsened in Jajpur, where breaches measuring 20 feet and 30 feet developed along the Brahmani River embankment. Floodwaters have affected 84 villages across 28 gram panchayats in three blocks, with more than 3,000 people evacuated. As a precaution, the district administration declared a holiday for all schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres.

In Cuttack district, rising Mahanadi waters have inundated the sanctum of the revered Maa Bhattarika Temple at Badamba with nearly five feet of water. Following traditional rituals, the temple’s movable idol was shifted to a temporary shelter on Ratnagiri Hill. Authorities have urged devotees to avoid unnecessary gatherings.

Flooding has also disrupted connectivity in Banki, where overflowing rivers have submerged roads and bridges, cutting off several panchayats. Villages including Kainmundi and Charigharia remain surrounded by floodwaters, while residents continue shifting livestock and belongings to safer locations as rescue and relief operations remain in full swing.

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Odisha Flood Alert: Urban Development Department Cancels Officials’ Leave, Cuttack Braces for Rising Mahanadi Waters

OdishaConnect — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:16:34 +0000

With the flood situation worsening across parts of Odisha, particularly in northern districts and along the Mahanadi river basin, the State Urban Development Department has gone on high alert, cancelling the leave of all officials and directing them to remain on 24-hour emergency duty.

Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said officials have been instructed to monitor the situation from control rooms round the clock and ensure a swift response in flood-affected urban areas. Pump sets have been deployed to drain water from waterlogged localities, while the department is preparing a comprehensive drainage master plan for all urban centres to tackle recurring flooding. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the plan will be prepared soon.

The minister said drinking water, food and emergency lighting arrangements have been kept ready wherever required in flood-hit areas. He acknowledged that several urban locations received rainfall far beyond the capacity of existing drainage systems, resulting in severe waterlogging.

Meanwhile, the flood situation remains critical in parts of northern Odisha, with Balasore witnessing unprecedented inundation. In Cuttack, the Mahanadi river continues to swell, with water discharge at Mundali Barrage crossing 8.13 lakh cusecs and expected to touch 9 lakh cusecs by evening.

Floodwaters have affected six blocks of Cuttack district—Badamba, Narasinghpur, Athagarh, Tigiria, Banki and Dampada—submerging villages and vast stretches of agricultural land. Authorities have also warned that low-lying areas of Niali and Mahanga could be affected if water levels continue to rise.

Evacuation has begun, with around 1,500 people in Athagarh, 600 in Banki, and 600–800 residents in Cuttack city being shifted to safer locations. District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde has urged evacuees to remain in relief shelters for the next 48 hours. Restrictions have also been imposed on public gatherings over barrages and embankments, while ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services teams remain deployed for rescue and emergency response.

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Odisha Flood Situation Worsens; Over 2.32 Lakh People Affected, Government on High Alert

OdishaConnect — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:59:30 +0000

The Odisha Government has intensified its flood response as the flood situation continues to worsen across several districts, particularly in northern Odisha. A high-level review meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Health Department directed all District Collectors and Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) to remain on high alert and ensure uninterrupted healthcare services in affected areas.

Authorities have been instructed to shift pregnant women to safer locations and maintain adequate stocks of anti-snake venom in all hospitals to tackle the increased risk of snakebite cases during floods. Medical colleges across northern Odisha have also been placed on standby, with emergency medical teams ready for deployment.

According to the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), floods have affected 2.32 lakh people across 233 gram panchayats in 44 blocks. So far, 27,967 people have been evacuated to safer places, while four deaths have been reported. The floods have damaged nearly 7,900 hectares of farmland and 761 kutcha houses.

The situation remains critical in the Baitarani basin, where floodwaters have submerged roads and cut off connectivity in parts of Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. At Akhuapada, the river is flowing at 20.26 metres, well above the danger level of 18.33 metres. More than 20 villages remain marooned in Dhamnagar and nearby areas.

Meanwhile, increased water release from Jharkhand’s Galudih Barrage into the Subarnarekha River has raised concerns over rising downstream water levels. Authorities have advised residents living along riverbanks to remain alert.

Continuous rainfall has also caused severe waterlogging in Balasore, Nilgiri, and Keonjhar, where rescue operations are underway. Relief camps, cooked food, and medical assistance are being provided as the administration continues evacuation, rescue, and damage assessment efforts. Residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to follow official advisories and move to safer locations if instructed.

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