Severe floods hit north Odisha as more than seven lakh people are affected
Heavy rainfall has triggered severe flooding across several districts in north Odisha, with officials saying more than seven lakh people have been affected. The worst-hit areas include Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur, where the administration is working to manage evacuations and relief. Authorities say the situation remains under close watch as river levels stay high.
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Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said nearly two lakh people are being evacuated from affected areas. He said water levels are receding in some districts, but most rivers are still flowing above the danger mark. The state government has said the situation is under control, while also preparing to provide what it described as adequate compensation to those affected.
The Mahanadi river remains in spate, raising concern that flooding could spread further downstream. Authorities are preparing to release nearly nine lakh cusecs of floodwater at Mundali in Cuttack, which could affect districts including Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khurda and Nayagarh. The scale of the evacuation suggests the flood response is now one of the largest in the state this monsoon season.
The flooding matters because it affects a wide stretch of northern and coastal Odisha and could place additional pressure on districts already vulnerable to river overflow. Large-scale displacement also creates immediate needs for shelter, food, drinking water and medical support. With rivers still above danger levels, the risk of further damage remains significant even where water is beginning to recede.
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Odisha has a long history of dealing with monsoon flooding, and the current situation again highlights the challenge of managing multiple river systems at once. The administration has said it is keeping all officials in the flood-affected districts on alert, while rescue and relief work continues. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said protecting every life was the government's top priority and that the administration, fire services and partner organisations were working in coordination.
What remains unclear is how much additional flooding may follow the planned release of water at Mundali and whether more districts will be affected in the coming hours. Officials have not yet given a full damage assessment, and the final number of displaced people may change as evacuations continue. The next key developments will be river-level updates, the pace of relief operations and any further warnings from the state administration.
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