Odisha flood crisis: Over 170 villages submerged, IMD forecasts more rain amid ongoing rescue efforts

Bhubaneswar: Floodwaters continued to submerge more than 170 villages across the Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts of northern Odisha for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, officials confirmed.

In Balasore district, around 130 villages across the blocks of Baliapal, Bhograi, and Jaleswar remained inundated by the swollen Subarnarekha river. Meanwhile, approximately 45 villages in Jajpur district were under floodwater from the Baitarani river. The Dhamnagar and Bhandaripokhari blocks in Bhadrak district have also been affected. Additionally, some villages in the Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts have reported flooding, officials added.

“Jajpur district has been severely hit due to a breach on the embankment of Kani river, a tributary of Baitarani river. I am going to the affected areas in Jajpur,” said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. He noted that relief and rescue operations are ongoing across the affected districts.

The minister also stated that many residents had been evacuated and were now being sheltered in relief camps. Cooked meals, dry rations, and fodder for livestock were being distributed to those in need.

In Sundergarh district, a trailer lorry was reportedly swept away by powerful floodwaters while attempting to cross a bridge over the Safei river in the Sahajbahal area. The driver, identified as Sujit Aind, remains missing, while fire and rescue personnel were able to save the lorry’s helper. A search operation is currently underway to locate the missing driver.

According to the latest reports, the Subarnarekha river at Rajghat was flowing at 10.70 metres—well above the danger mark of 10.36 metres. The Baitarani river at Akhiapada was also approaching the danger level, though authorities noted that the water levels of several other rivers were beginning to recede.

Meanwhile, the IMD reported that a new low-pressure area had formed over the north-west Bay of Bengal, just off the Odisha coast, at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify over the next 48 hours.

The weather agency has forecast isolated heavy rainfall across Odisha over the next four days, with particularly heavy to very heavy downpours anticipated on August 26 and 27.

"Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30–40 km/h at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada and Bolangir," an official said, quoting the IMD forecast.

Additionally, a very heavy rainfall warning has been issued on August 26 and 27 for the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, Nayagarh, and Kandhamal.

PTI