Odisha faces heavy flooding and health emergency amid relentless rain

Heavy rainfall and flooding have severely impacted Odisha, with the Koraput district facing significant disruption. In Koraput, continuous downpours have caused waterlogging, damaged homes, and caused major rivers such as the Indravati and Kolab to swell. Business activities and markets in areas like Jeypore and Sunabeda have been paralyzed, and vehicular movement on major highways has been affected.

Approximately one million people across six districts have been affected by floods in the state. While some areas show signs of receding water, the India Meteorological Department has warned of a fresh low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several districts, including Koraput and Rayagada, over the coming days.

In response, the Odisha government has deployed senior health officials to Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, and Jajpur to manage post-flood healthcare. Efforts are focused on preventing waterborne disease outbreaks through village disinfection, water source cleaning, and disease surveillance. In Bhadrak, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling reviewed emergency preparedness, noting the deployment of medical relief centres, mobile health units, and rapid response teams to provide essential medical assistance and monitor public health.