Odisha Floods Leave Trail of Devastation; Centre Grants Rs 500 Crore
The flood crisis was triggered by incessant rainfall across the Mahanadi basin and neighbouring catchments
Bhubaneswar: Even as swollen rivers continue to recede gradually across parts of Odisha, the scale of devastation left behind by one of the season's worst floods is becoming increasingly evident. More than 8 lakh people across several districts have been affected, thousands of houses have been damaged, vast stretches of agricultural land have been inundated, and entire villages have been left struggling to rebuild shattered lives.
In a major relief measure, the Union Government on Saturday approved Rs 2,117.85 crore as advance financial assistance to seven flood-affected states. Odisha received Rs 500 crore as the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2026–27 to strengthen relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre remained fully committed to supporting states battling floods and had been closely monitoring the evolving situation while deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and extending logistical assistance wherever required.
The flood crisis was triggered by incessant rainfall across the Mahanadi basin and neighbouring catchments, forcing the Hirakud Dam authorities to release water through all 22 sluice gates. The swelling Mahanadi and its tributaries, along with the Kansabansa, Gamei, Mantei, Baitarani, Brahmani and Subarnarekha rivers, inundated hundreds of villages in districts including Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur. While river levels have started declining in some places, authorities remain on high alert as enormous volumes of water continue to flow downstream.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged districts to assess the extent of the damage and monitor relief operations. During the review, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure an uninterrupted supply of food, drinking water, medicines and other essentials to marooned villages, expedite rescue operations wherever required, and begin damage assessments for early compensation. The government also assured farmers and families whose houses and crops had been damaged that assistance would be be provided after detailed surveys.
Relief operations continue on a war footing. Teams of the NDRF, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and the local administration remain deployed in vulnerable areas, evacuating stranded families, operating rescue boats and restoring road connectivity. Hundreds of people displaced by floodwaters are surviving on cooked food prepared in community kitchens run by the district administration, while medical teams have been stationed in relief camps to prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari has directed district administrations to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and ensure the prompt distribution of relief materials.
Yet, beyond the official figures lies a stark human tragedy.
Families continue to live in temporary shelters after their homes were swallowed by floodwaters. Children wade through waterlogged streets to reach safer places. Farmers stare helplessly at submerged paddy fields that represent months of hard work. In several villages, boats have replaced roads, while broken embankments, collapsed mud houses and acres of silt-covered farmland bear testimony to the fury of the deluge.