Bhubaneswar, July 29: The Odisha government has cancelled the leave of all government officers and employees in eight flood-affected districts as it intensified relief and rescue operations in the wake of widespread flooding triggered by incessant rainfall. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday said the administration remains on high alert to ensure timely assistance to affected people and effective management of the flood situation.

Addressing mediapersons, Pujari said police, fire services and other emergency response teams have been deployed at vulnerable locations, while officials have been instructed to remain available round the clock to respond to any crisis.

The minister informed that the floods have claimed three lives, all from Keonjhar district. More than two lakh people across six districts and 44 blocks have been affected, while nearly 27,000 to 30,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. As many as 226 villages continue to remain waterlogged due to overflowing rivers and heavy rainfall.

He said district collectors are supervising relief operations on a war footing. Cooked meals, baby food, safe drinking water and other essential supplies are being provided at relief centres, while dry food is being distributed to families who have chosen to stay in their villages. Polythene sheets have also been supplied to households whose homes were damaged.

Medical teams have been deployed across flood-hit areas with adequate stocks of essential medicines, including anti-snake venom injections, to prevent health emergencies. The minister added that the government is closely monitoring water levels in the Hirakud reservoir and other major dams. Currently, two gates of Hirakud Dam are open, with the reservoir level around 600 feet. The government plans to maintain the level up to 620 feet and may open additional gates if inflows increase.

Pujari cautioned that water discharge could reach up to nine lakh cusecs in the coming days and urged people in downstream areas to remain vigilant. He also informed that a Fire Services personnel lost his life during water drainage operations in Keonjhar. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, currently in New Delhi, has been continuously reviewing the flood situation and issuing directions to officials to ensure effective relief and rescue measures.

Powered by Froala Editor