Odisha government orders damage assessments as floods affect nearly 6 million people

The Odisha state government has instructed district collectors in the flood‑hit districts to submit detailed damage‑assessment reports within three days so that compensation can be released to affected families. Official data indicate that between 5.9 lakh and 7.9 lakh people across five to fifteen districts have been impacted, with thousands of villages, gram panchayats, blocks and urban local bodies affected. Floodwaters have damaged over 16,000 hectares of agricultural land and more than a thousand houses, while 464 relief camps have been established and polythene sheets distributed to families.

A high‑level review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari reported that river water levels are gradually receding, though some low‑lying areas remain inundated. The state has opened additional gates at the Hirakud Dam, planning to release an extra 1.5 lakh cusecs of water over 40 hours to lower water levels downstream. Rescue and relief operations continue with the deployment of National Disaster Response Force teams, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units and fire services.