Bhubaneswar: In response to the flooding crisis in Odisha, around 494,000 residents have been evacuated from affected regions, and 957 relief centers have been established to assist those forced to leave their homes, as reported by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday.
Pujari informed the media that the flood situation is under close observation in various districts, including Kalahandi, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda.
As of approximately 10 a.m., 2,282 individuals were evacuated from impacted areas, along with the establishment of 95 new relief centers, raising the total number to 957. The minister confirmed that a total of 494,125 evacuees are currently being housed in these centers.
In addition, the state government has intensified its food distribution efforts for those affected by the floods. Pujari mentioned that 95 new free kitchens have been launched, bringing the total number to 944 across Odisha.
Over the last three days, cooked meals have been provided to 228,767 individuals through these kitchens, with a total of 500,260 flood-affected residents receiving food assistance, according to the minister.
Moreover, dry food packages containing chuda (flattened rice) and guda (jaggery) have been distributed to those impacted in the last two days.
Rescue and evacuation efforts have been bolstered, featuring the deployment of 99 teams statewide. This includes 28 teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), one from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 40 teams from Fire and Emergency Services, and 30 teams from police and civil defense.
These teams are positioned in newly affected areas to aid in evacuations and other relief efforts, Pujari added.
The minister assured that the administration is vigilantly monitoring the flood conditions and is ready to implement further evacuation procedures if necessary. He noted, “Water levels in all rivers are receding,” suggesting an overall improvement in the flood situation.
