Odisha Floods: Over 70,000 Evacuated as Rivers Swell, Hirakud Dam Opens 16 Gates

The Odisha government on Saturday shifted more than 70,000 people from low-lying areas to safety, housing them in 395 relief camps, after days of heavy rainfall left rivers across the state in spate, officials said.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas in south Odisha on Sunday morning.

Flash floods and waterlogging have been reported from 13 districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Bolangir and Jagatsinghpur.

The coastal district of Balasore is among the worst affected, with three major rivers flowing above their danger levels. The Subarnarekha was flowing at 11.07 metres at Rajghat in Jaleswar at 5 pm, against a danger level of 10.36 metres. This has led to flooding in villages in the Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal and Basta blocks, officials said.

The Budhabalang was flowing above the danger level at 8.8 metres over National Highway 16 at Govindpur at 3 pm. Other rivers, including the Kansabansa, Soa and Gangahar, were also in spate in the district.

In Mayurbhanj, authorities at Similipal National Park have announced the temporary closure of Devkund, a tourist destination, and have discouraged visitors from entering the sanctuary as several streams and water channels have risen significantly. Heavy rain has also washed away or damaged bridges and culverts on the access route to Devkund, an official said.

Floodwaters of the Budhabalang entered parts of Baripada municipality and the Badasahi, Betanati, Udala, Kaptipada, Saraskana and Rasagobindapur blocks.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said 11 more gates of the Hirakud Dam were opened on Saturday to release excess water from the reservoir, taking the total number of sluice gates opened so far to 16.

Officials said more gates had to be opened because of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area of the Mahanadi river in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The reservoir is close to its full capacity, and people living in the floodplains and low-lying areas have been asked to remain alert.

The minister said 33 rescue teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and around 300 teams of Fire Services personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.

In Jajpur, the overflowing Kani river, a branch of the Baitarani, inundated the Tarapada and Kapasi panchayats in Dasarathpur block.

In Kalahandi, five gates of the Indravati project on the Hati river were opened, discharging 550 cusecs of water since Thursday night and flooding several blocks. In Koraput, five panchayats in Kotpad block were inundated and more than 100 houses were damaged.

Odisha is routinely affected by monsoon flooding because several of its rivers carry large volumes of water from upstream catchments, and because large stretches of its coastal and delta regions lie at or below the level of nearby rivers. Disaster management officials have advised residents in vulnerable areas to follow local advisories and move to designated shelters when asked.