Bhubaneswar, July 29: The Odisha government is fully prepared to manage the flood situation caused by continuous rainfall in the state. A high-level review meeting was held on Tuesday, chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, to assess the current situation and review the preparedness of all relevant departments.
During the meeting, the minister stated that the state government has implemented comprehensive measures in collaboration with all district administrations to ensure the safety and well-being of the public. He urged citizens to remain calm, avoid panic, and take full advantage of the assistance and services provided by the administration. He also instructed all district administrations and relevant departments to work in coordination and maintain constant vigilance.
The minister reported that the water levels of the Baitarani and Jalaka rivers in Anandpur and Akhuapada have risen above the danger mark, while the Brahmani and Subarnarekha rivers are also being closely monitored due to rising water levels in some areas. Balasore district recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours, with several areas in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts also heavily affected.
Considering the next 12 hours as critical, the minister directed that the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) continue operations overnight for ongoing flood situation monitoring. He also instructed officials to expedite the evacuation of people living in vulnerable and low-lying areas to safer locations.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have already been deployed in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts, with all collectors and block development officers placed on high alert. The police department has increased night patrols and deployed female officers to ensure the safety of women and children.
The government has ensured the availability of cooked food, drinking water, and other essential facilities in all relief camps. The police department has also been instructed to secure the homes and belongings of those evacuated to safe locations. The health, fisheries, and animal resources development departments, along with all other relevant departments, have been asked to remain fully prepared. Adequate arrangements have been made for the safety of livestock, including sufficient stock of fodder. Considering the potential for snakebite incidents during the floods, a sufficient supply of medicines and anti-snake venom has also been made available in affected areas.
He reiterated that the administration is fully prepared to address the changing flood situation and urged the public to remain vigilant without fear. He also directed officials to assess damages promptly and provide immediate compensation to affected families for losses to homes and agricultural land as per established guidelines.
The State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring the situation around the clock, maintaining continuous coordination with district emergency operation centers. To strengthen flood preparedness, evacuation of people to safer locations, public safety, and overall disaster management, special responsibility has been assigned to three senior IAS officers for the most affected districts.
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