Flood Fury / Odisha Floods: Water Recedes, Misery Persists

Bhubaneswar, Aug 3: Floodwaters across coastal Odisha are gradually receding, but the suffering of thousands of families remains acute. In Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and low-lying areas of Cuttack and Puri, residents continue to grapple with waterlogged homes, ruined crops and disrupted livelihoods.

Relief Package Announced

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has approved the advance release of Rs500 crore from the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Odisha, strengthening ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures.

The State government separately announced an initial Rs110 crore package to support victims. Preliminary assessments show 3,567 houses damaged and 33,458 hectares of crops lost, while six lives have been lost to the floods. More than 8.64 lakh people across 22 districts have been affected. Relief camps have sheltered 2.67 lakh evacuees, with 529 centres and 31 cattle camps set up to provide immediate assistance.

Compensation Norms

Compensation norms include Rs1.20 lakh for fully damaged houses, Rs6,500 for partially damaged pucca houses, Rs4,000 for kutcha houses, and Rs8,000 for collapsed huts. Farmers will receive Rs8,500 per hectare for rainfed crops, Rs17,000 for irrigated crops, and Rs22,500 for perennial crops. Livestock owners are also entitled to compensation, ranging from Rs37,500 per cow or buffalo to Rs4,000 per goat or sheep.

Ground Reality

Residents in flood-hit Bhadrak and Balasore districts continue to rely on boats to navigate submerged streets. Farmers, many of whom borrowed heavily for cultivation, are demanding swift compensation as paddy and vegetable crops lie destroyed. Fear of snakes and crocodiles entering inundated homes has added to the distress. In Jajpur, urgent repairs are underway on embankments along the Brahmani river, while engineers monitor vulnerable stretches of the Mahanadi, Daya, Rajua and Devi river systems.

Hirakud Reservoir Level Drops

The Hirakud reservoir level stood at 620.77 feet on Monday, with reduced discharge through 19 gates easing pressure downstream. Officials said inflow into the reservoir has dropped to 1.07 lakh cusecs, while outflow remains higher at 3.03 lakh cusecs, helping stabilise levels. They added that no fresh flood threat is likely unless heavy rainfall occurs in the catchment areas.

Also Read: Centre Releases Rs500 Crore to Odisha for Flood Relief

Relief & Rehabilitation Drive Intensifies

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed four Ministers to oversee relief and rehabilitation on the ground. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said restoration of roads, bridges and schools is in progress, while disinfection drives are being carried out to curb waterborne diseases. He added that special teams have been deployed to monitor sanitation in flood-hit villages. The government has also prioritised the repair of embankments to prevent further breaches during the ongoing monsoon.