Odisha News Today

Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a rare high-security rail journey on Tuesday morning, travelling from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Berhampur aboard a specially configured Presidential train that arrived from New Delhi. Scheduled to depart at around 9 am, the nearly 2-hour 10-minute non-stop journey has generated considerable public curiosity – not only because train travel by an incumbent President has become exceptionally rare, but also because this will make Murmu the most rail-travelled President of Independent India while in office. The specially prepared Presidential rake, equipped with a modern luxury saloon and elaborate security arrangements, has been pressed into service amid forecasts of persistent monsoon weather over Odisha. Third Rail Journey Makes History Tuesday's Bhubaneswar-Berhampur journey will be President Murmu's third official train journey since assuming office in July 2022, making her the President with the highest number of rail journeys during a single tenure in Independent India. Between 1990 and 2026, an incumbent President has travelled by train only six times, underscoring the rarity of such journeys in an era dominated by Air India One and VVIP aircraft. The chronology is equally revealing: President Date Route Significance Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam January 2004 Chandigarh-New Delhi Special Presidential train after official visit Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 2006 New Delhi-Dehradun IMA Passing Out Parade; last use of the vintage 1956 Presidential Saloon Ram Nath Kovind June 2021 New Delhi-Kanpur/Lucknow Revived Presidential rail travel after a 15-year gap Droupadi Murmu November 2023 Badampahar-Rairangpur/Shalimar First rail journey as President during Odisha visit Droupadi Murmu September 2025 New Delhi-Vrindavan-Mathura Travelled aboard an 18-coach Presidential Special Droupadi Murmu August 4, 2026 Bhubaneswar-Berhampur Third rail journey, highest by any President Interestingly, Presidents R. Venkataraman, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, K.R. Narayanan, Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee did not undertake any official railway journey during their respective tenures, reflecting the post-1990 shift towards air travel for VVIP movement. What Exactly Is the President's Train? Unlike the historic wooden Presidential Saloon retired in 2006, the current Presidential Special is a modern 18-coach luxury rake based largely on the configuration of Indian Railways' ultra-luxury Maharajas' Express, effectively functioning as a self-contained Presidential Palace on Wheels. The rake is divided into five operational sections. Front Security Zone (3 coaches): Power car and brake van SPG command and surveillance coach GRP-RPF operational control coach Presidential Zone (4 coaches): Bullet-resistant Presidential Suite Conference and Secretariat coach VIP meeting lounge Guest accommodation Hospitality Zone (4 coaches): Two luxury dining coaches Lounge and observation coach Fully-equipped commercial kitchen Operational Support Zone (5 coaches): Medical emergency coach Secretariat and protocol staff coaches Railway engineering and maintenance coaches Rear Support Zone (2 coaches): Housekeeping and logistics coach Rear power car and guard cabin The train is equipped with advanced air-suspension technology, ensuring an exceptionally smooth ride even at speeds approaching 90-100 kmph. The Presidential Suite features bullet-resistant double-glazed windows, secure communication systems, dedicated emergency exits and automated fire suppression facilities. How the Presidential Train Travels The movement of the President's train transforms normal railway operations into a tightly controlled security corridor. The Bhubaneswar-Berhampur run will be preceded by an advance pilot train, while another escort train will follow behind the Presidential Special. These trains move sequentially over the same route to ensure complete track clearance. No passenger or freight train is permitted on the allocated line while the Presidential convoy is in motion. The train itself will operate as a non-stop service, maintaining a uniform speed of around 90 kmph, reaching Berhampur in approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. Blue Book Security Protocol Comes Into Force The President's train movement follows the Union Government's stringent Blue Book security protocol, jointly enforced by the Special Protection Group-equivalent Presidential security establishment, Odisha Police, Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and railway officials. Key measures include: Platforms 1 and 2 at Bhubaneswar Railway Station will be completely sanitised about three hours before departure. Passenger movement on the designated platforms will be heavily restricted. Every railway level crossing between Bhubaneswar and Berhampur will be manually guarded and closed before the convoy approaches. No train will be allowed to overtake the Presidential Special. Trains approaching from the opposite direction will be detained at the nearest station or outer signal until the entire Presidential convoy, including the rear escort train, has passed. The exact coach occupied by the President remains confidential as part of standard VVIP security procedures. Railway sources said the disruption to normal train movement on the concerned corridor is expected to remain limited to the period required for complete passage of the Presidential convoy, roughly a little over two hours, after which scheduled operations will progressively resume. For Indian Railways, Tuesday's journey is far more than a routine VVIP movement. It represents a rare continuation of a tradition that has almost disappeared from modern India, while placing President Droupadi Murmu in the record books as the country's most rail-travelled President in office.Also Read: Education / President Murmu Inaugurates Jagadguru Kripalu University in Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: With floodwaters steadily receding across the Mahanadi delta and northern coastal districts, Odisha is gradually returning to normalcy. Unlike the devastating floods that scarred the State over the past decade, including the widely criticised man-made floods of 2011 and 2014, as of now, it seems the first BJP government have successfully negotiated its biggest flood challenge. While the July-August 2026 floods spread across 22 districts, affecting 8.63 lakh people, they did not spiral into a humanitarian catastrophe. The defining feature of this year's flood management was speed, particularly the unprecedented pace of evacuation. Instead of waiting for rivers to breach embankments, authorities shifted over 2.67 lakh people before peak floodwaters arrived, marking Odisha's transition from a rescue-based approach to a prevention-based flood response. 2026 Flood: Medium in Scale, Big on Management Unlike the catastrophic floods of 2011 or 2014, the current flood remained a medium-intensity event despite affecting a large geographical area. According to official figures, floodwaters impacted 22 districts, with Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur emerging as the worst-hit regions. Around 8.63 lakh people were affected, while 2,67,301 persons were evacuated to safety before rivers reached their highest levels. The government deployed 24 ODRAF teams, six NDRF teams and 46 Fire Service units, backed by relief camps, medical teams, baby food supplies and cattle feed. Financial assistance was simultaneously activated through SDRF funds, reducing delays in relief distribution. How 2026 Compares With Odisha's Six Major Floods Since the catastrophic flood of 2011, Odisha has experienced six major flood episodes. In terms of affected population, the present flood ranks below the disasters of 2011, 2014 and 2020, and is broadly comparable to 2022. Flood Year Districts Affected Population Affected Relative Severity 2013 12 Over 10 lakh Severe 2014 23 Around 34 lakh Very Severe 2019 13 Around 5 lakh Moderate 2020 20 Around 14.5 lakh Severe 2022 24 Around 9.5 lakh High 2026 22 8.63 lakh Medium, well-managed What distinguishes 2026 is that a relatively wide geographical spread did not translate into proportionately high human losses. The extensive evacuation and calibrated reservoir management ensured that floodwaters were largely contained without triggering the cascading disasters witnessed in previous years. The Biggest Difference: Evacuation Before Inundation The most significant departure from Odisha's earlier flood management has been the shift from reactive rescue to pre-emptive evacuation. Historically, large-scale evacuations were initiated after villages were marooned or embankments breached. This year, however, evacuation began nearly 48 to 72 hours before rivers reached peak levels, allowing authorities to move vulnerable populations while road connectivity remained intact. Nearly 31% of the affected population was relocated to relief centres, far exceeding previous flood responses. Evacuation: 2026 vs Earlier Major Floods Parameter 2026 Flood 2022 Flood 2020 Flood 2011 Flood People evacuated 2,67,301 ~60,000 ~32,000 ~1,50,000 Affected population 8,63,909 ~9.5 lakh ~14.5 lakh 34 lakh+ Share of affected population evacuated 30.9% 6.3% 2.2% 4.4% Evacuation approach Pre-emptive (72-hour lead) Reactive Reactive Emergency response Trigger IMD forecasts & river modelling Post reservoir releases After villages marooned During embankment failures Source: Official data compiled from Revenue & Disaster Management Department and historical flood records. What Changed in 2026 That Earlier Floods Missed Beyond faster evacuation, several operational improvements distinguish this year's response. 2026 Initiative Earlier Flood Scenario Evacuation initiated before flood peak Evacuation largely began after inundation Police patrolled evacuated villages to prevent theft Fear of property theft discouraged evacuation Women police deployed in relief camps Dedicated protection measures largely absent Baby food and cattle feed supplied in camps Farmers often returned to flooded villages for livestock Multi-agency deployment planned in advance Rescue forces mobilised after flood situation worsened Immediate SDRF funding for districts Relief spending often followed damage assessment These interventions addressed one of Odisha's longstanding challenges – people refusing evacuation because of concerns over homes, livestock and personal security. By reducing that resistance, authorities substantially increased evacuation compliance. Lessons Learnt From 2011 and 2014 The floods of 2011 and 2014 continue to serve as reminders of how reservoir management can aggravate natural disasters. Both events drew criticism because sudden large-scale releases from Hirakud Dam, following delayed discharge decisions, intensified downstream flooding. The 2014 flood was subsequently criticised by, even, CAG for violating reservoir rule-curve principles. This year, however, authorities adopted a more calibrated strategy. Reservoir releases were regulated in phases while downstream river flows were continuously monitored, avoiding the panic discharge situations that characterised previous disasters. The Takeaway The July-August 2026 flood was certainly not Odisha's largest flood in terms of either geographical spread or affected population. Yet it could become a watershed in the State's disaster-management history. The first BJP government faced its toughest flood challenge within years of taking office. Instead of allowing the crisis to evolve into another 2011 or 2014, it relied on early forecasts, rapid mobilisation and pre-emptive evacuation. The result is evident in the numbers: over 2.67 lakh people moved to safety before floodwaters peaked, nearly one-third of all affected residents evacuated, and a disaster that remained largely manageable despite covering 22 districts. If earlier floods were remembered for panic rescue operations, the 2026 flood may be remembered for proving that prevention is far more effective than rescue. Also Read: Mahanadi Flood: Odisha Braces for 5-Foot Inundation in Bhubaneswar, Jagatsinghpur & Puri Pockets Sunday-Monday| Exclusive