Cyclone Aftermath / Central team reviews flood damage as farmers await relief in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5: An eight-member Central team held discussions with Odisha government officials after completing a two-day assessment of flood damage in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

The team, which visited several affected areas and interacted with flood-hit residents, is expected to submit its findings to the Centre, paving the way for possible financial assistance to the state.

After conducting extensive field visits in the affected districts, the team reached Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar and met Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja along with other senior state government officials.

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During the meeting, discussions focused on the extent of damage caused by the recent floods, including losses to agriculture, housing and livelihoods.

The team assessed the number of damaged houses, the area of agricultural land affected and the overall impact on vulnerable communities. Members also interacted directly with flood victims to understand the ground reality and gather first-hand information about their hardships.

The visit comes a day after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the flood situation and seek support from the Centre.

While the Odisha government has already announced a special relief package, attention is now focused on the level of Central assistance that may be approved following the team's report.

Meanwhile, flood-devastated farmers in Purusottampur block of Ganjam district continue to struggle with heavy losses. Areas such as Futiapadar, known for arecanut, lemon and betel vine cultivation, have suffered extensive damage.

Farmers said the floods destroyed crops that served as their primary source of income. Betel vineyards have collapsed, while arecanut and lemon fruits have fallen from trees, leaving growers with little hope of recovering their investments.

Many farmers traditionally earn over Rs 2 lakh annually from these crops, but this year's floods have severely affected their livelihoods.