Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) continued evacuation and relief operations in flood-hit parts of Odisha on Wednesday with authorities saying the overall situation in the worst-affected districts was gradually improving.
In Balasore district, rescue personnel remained engaged in evacuating people and livestock from inundated areas, while relief camps continued to provide cooked food and other essential services to displaced families. Reviewing the flood situation, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said nearly two lakh people had been affected by the floods, with around 30,000 currently housed in relief centres.
“The three worst-affected districts—Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur—are witnessing an improvement in the situation, which remains under control. Nearly two lakh people have been affected, while around 30,000 people are staying in relief centres with necessary assistance,” Pujari said after a high-level review meeting chaired in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
The minister said six NDRF teams, along with ODRAF and Fire Services personnel, had been deployed across vulnerable districts to strengthen rescue and relief efforts. The meeting reviewed the state’s preparedness and response measures to ensure timely assistance to flood-affected residents.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression over north interior Odisha and adjoining parts of south Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh had moved westwards at around 15 kmph over the past six hours and was centred over central Chhattisgarh and adjoining north interior Odisha.
The weather office said the system is likely to continue moving westwards across Chhattisgarh and east Madhya Pradesh over the next 24 hours. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Thursday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in the districts of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Koraput.
