Snakebite, Floodwater And Bamboo Rafts: Odisha’s Flood-Hit Villages Struggle To Stay Afloat
Flood-hit villages in Odisha face snakebite risks, waist-deep water and unsafe bamboo rafts as residents struggle to access essential services.
A former Odisha legislator was reportedly bitten by a snake while inspecting flood-affected areas of Kendrapara district on Thursday, even as families in neighbouring Bhadrak district continued to rely on bamboo rafts to move through floodwater, highlighting the risks and hardships confronting people after repeated flooding.
Former Rajnagar MLA Anshuman Mohanty was reportedly bitten while visiting Mandapada to assess the flood situation and meet affected residents. He was subsequently taken to the Rajnagar Community Health Centre for medical examination and treatment. His condition was reported to be stable.
Mohanty said he had been moving through knee-deep floodwater during his visit and had seen crocodiles and snakes in the area. He noticed two bite marks after returning to the boat and decided to undergo a blood test at the hospital amid reports of several snakebite cases in the flood-hit region.
“I was reviewing the flood situation in the area in knee-deep water. While travelling by boat, we saw crocodiles and snakes. After returning from the visit, when I was getting into the boat, I noticed two bite marks,” Mohanty said.
He added that although he was not experiencing any discomfort, he became concerned because of the reported increase in snakebite cases and deaths in the area.
The incident came as several villages in the Rajnagar Assembly constituency remained affected by flooding following the rise in the Brahmani river. Large numbers of residents have been affected by inundation, with floodwater disrupting normal life and access to essential services.
Across the district border in Bhadrak, the prolonged impact of flooding has forced residents of Basudevpur block to turn to improvised bamboo rafts for everyday travel.
For families surrounded by stagnant floodwater, the rafts have become a lifeline — used to reach hospitals and markets and, increasingly, by children travelling to school after educational institutions reopened.
In several areas, residents said the water remained waist-deep, making conventional travel difficult or impossible. Children have reportedly been using bamboo rafts fitted with makeshift oars to travel to and from school.
The practice, however, has raised concerns over safety. A local woman alleged that a child recently fell from one of the rafts, stressing the risks faced by families with few alternatives.
Although water levels have receded in some locations, the retreating floodwater has left behind another layer of hardship. Several houses remain waterlogged and filled with mud, leaving families struggling to resume normal life.
In some homes, residents have been forced to cook on makeshift raised platforms while spending much of their time on beds with their children because the floors remain covered with water and mud.
