Bhubaneswar: As southern Odisha faces significant risks of floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall caused by a deep depression, the state government has dispatched four senior ministers to the impacted regions to manage relief operations and preparedness.
According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, the government has acted swiftly to evacuate residents from low-lying and landslide-prone areas amid ongoing heavy rains.
Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, who oversees Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, has been assigned to Koraput, while Minister Gokulananda Mallik, responsible for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, is in Gajapati district to evaluate the situation and support local administrations.
With reports of additional rainfall and waterlogging emerging from southern districts, two more ministers—Bibhuti Bhusan Jena (Transport) and Nityananda Gond (School and Mass Education)—have been directed to visit Ganjam and Nabarangpur districts, respectively. Jena is expected to arrive in Ganjam by Thursday evening, while Gond will head to Nabarangpur on Friday after his assembly duties.
Additionally, four senior officials have been deployed to the affected areas to oversee relief efforts and assess the extent of damage, Pujari noted. The ongoing rainfall linked to the deep depression has already impacted six districts: Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, and Nabarangpur.
The ruling BJP has also instructed its MLAs in vulnerable constituencies to visit their regions and assist the local authorities. Pujari emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving “zero casualty,” reporting that by Thursday afternoon, 8,082 individuals had been evacuated, with efforts still underway. District collectors have been tasked with relocating people from areas at risk of flooding.
Pujari assured that the situation remains manageable, despite reports of downed trees, landslides, waterlogging, and road blockages from the affected districts. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities thus far.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that the intensity of rainfall is expected to rise as the weather system approaches Koraput later in the evening. The IMD forecasts continued heavy rain for the next two days.
In the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am Thursday, the state recorded an average rainfall of 70 mm, with Semiliguda in Koraput district experiencing the highest amount at 193.9 mm. Seventeen locations across the state received more than 100 mm of rain.
The weather agency has issued a red alert, urging authorities to take precautionary measures, and has projected over 20 cm of rain for Nabarangpur district. An orange alert has been declared for six other districts—Bargarh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, and Malkangiri—indicating heavy rains of 12-20 cm expected within the next 24 hours.
A yellow alert has been issued for nine additional districts—Balasore, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Kandhamal, and Rayagada—anticipating rainfall of 7-11 cm.
The Water Resources Department has announced that officials are conducting intensified night patrols and monitoring key locations statewide due to the heavy rain. Engineering officers and field teams are closely observing critical water infrastructure, reporting rising water levels in the Jalaka and Budhabalang rivers in Balasore district.
The IMD also warned of squally weather conditions along the coast, with wind speeds reaching up to 70 km/h, advising fishermen to avoid sea ventures until Friday morning.
In Malkangiri, reports indicated that 4-5 feet of rainwater is currently flowing over four low-level bridges on National Highway 326, halting all vehicular traffic on the Malkangiri-Motu National Highway. Communication with Kalimela, Motu, and Padia blocks has been disrupted, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on either side of the submerged bridges. Officials also reported that the bridge on the Malkangiri-Chhattisgarh road is underwater.
Water levels have increased in Balimela, Satiguda, and Jalaput reservoirs. Due to heavy water flow and the risk of landslides, the Balimela-Chitrakonda ghat road has been closed, according to officials.
Koraput district, predominantly tribal, has also experienced heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours, but officials confirmed no casualties, injuries, or major traffic disruptions have occurred. In several locations within Borigumma, Narayanpatna, and Pottangi areas, trees fell alongside roads, prompting fire personnel and ODRAF teams to engage in clearing operations.
Koraput Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan stated, “The situation is currently under control, and officials remain on high alert to prevent any incidents. Traffic movement has not been disrupted in any part of the district.”
