Bhubaneswar, 26 August (H.S.): The overall flood and heavy rainfall situation in Odisha remains under control, with the state government and district administrations continuing coordinated rescue, relief and restoration operations across the affected areas, the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said on Wednesday.

According to the situation report issued at 11 am, a total of 13,50,306 people in 1,895 villages, 604 gram panchayats and 91 blocks across 10 districts have been affected by floods, waterlogging, rising river levels, breaches and disruption of communication since August 13.

The situation remains stable, although Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts continue to be closely monitored. Nine blocks in these three districts are currently flood-affected—five in Kendrapada, two in Bhadrak and two in Jajpur. Around 80,284 people in 189 villages under 68 gram panchayats have been affected.

The state recorded an average rainfall of 3.2 mm during the 24 hours till 8.30 am on August 26. Bamra block in Sambalpur recorded the highest rainfall at 49 mm, followed by Kakatpur in Puri with 47 mm. Rourkela Municipal Corporation received 33.6 mm, while Khairput in Malkangiri and Bhubaneswar’s North Zone recorded 33 mm each.

Odisha received 347.7 mm of rainfall between August 1 and 26, which is 16.4 per cent above the normal average of 298.6 mm. During the monsoon season from June 1 to August 26, the state recorded 1,103.9 mm, 30.9 per cent above the normal average of 843 mm.

As many as 21 districts have recorded above-normal rainfall during the monsoon, while the remaining nine districts have received normal rainfall. No district has so far recorded deficient or scanty rainfall.

The administration has deployed 57 rescue teams, including 21 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams and two police, civil defence or local teams. A total of 210 boats have also been deployed.

So far, 41,761 people have been rescued and 76,051 evacuated by boats. Connectivity has been restored to 775 isolated villages, while 215 people have been evacuated for emergency medical treatment.

Relief operations are continuing, with 87 free kitchens currently providing cooked meals. On Wednesday alone, 25,720 people received cooked food, taking the cumulative number of beneficiaries to 5,25,396. Relief materials, including rice, flattened rice (chuda), jaggery and polythene sheets, are also being distributed.

Relief shelters have been equipped with drinking water, sanitation, lighting and medical facilities, with special arrangements for children, pregnant women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The floods have affected 8,611 tube wells and 245 piped water supply projects. Of these, 5,816 tube wells and 144 PWS projects have been restored or disinfected. Water tankers and more than 10.28 lakh drinking water bottles or pouches have been supplied, while six mobile water treatment units have been deployed.

Power restoration is underway after flooding affected 73,495 electricity consumers. A total of 88 roads and bridges have also been affected.

In the health sector, 84 medical teams and 53 medical camps are currently operating in Jajpur, where 18 health centres or areas have been affected. So far, 33,653 people have received medical treatment. The district has reported 304 cases of diarrhoea or vomiting and 49 snakebite cases. As many as 327 pregnant women have been shifted to health facilities and 99 institutional deliveries have been conducted.

Agricultural losses have been reported across approximately 1,02,481.5 hectares of paddy crop. Flooding has also affected 5,60,356 livestock and 56,983 poultry birds. Veterinary teams have treated and vaccinated 25,230 animals, while 1,587.56 metric tonnes of cattle feed have been supplied. Forty-one animal deaths have been reported.

Authorities are closely monitoring breaches on the Baitarani river’s left bank at Anandapur in Kendujhar and on the Baitarani-Kani river system at Tarapada Gram Panchayat in Jajpur. Alternative communication arrangements are being put in place at several affected locations.

NH-49 has been disrupted in Telkoi block of Kendujhar. Of 217 district and rural roads, 104 have been affected, along with two bridges, while restoration work is underway.

Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said there was no shortage of rescue forces, food, safe drinking water, medicines or relief materials anywhere in the state. He said the administration was fully prepared to mobilise additional resources wherever required and urged people to follow safety guidelines and take necessary precautions to protect life and property.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda