Odisha's flood situation continued to show signs of improvement on Thursday, with the state government confirming that water levels in most major rivers are trending downward and rainfall activity has reduced significantly across the state. However, officials cautioned that the crisis is not fully resolved, as one river continues to flow above the danger threshold.
According to an official statement, the Subarnarekha is currently the only river in Odisha still flowing above its danger level, although even this river's water level is now on a declining trend. The government and district administrations are maintaining round-the-clock monitoring, alongside continued relief, response and restoration operations in the affected regions.
District-Wise Impact: Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Baleshwar
Three districts remain significantly affected by the fresh floods. In Jajpur, the Dasrathpur block bore the brunt of the impact, with 62 villages across 19 gram panchayats affected; 22 relief camps are currently operational, sheltering 7,745 people.
In Mayurbhanj, the situation is more widespread, with 97 villages across 21 blocks affected, along with two wards of Baripada Municipality. The district has 29 relief camps running, covering 10,501 beneficiaries, while 104 houses have reportedly been damaged and nine polythene rolls distributed for temporary shelter needs.
Baleshwar remains the worst-hit district, with 214 villages across five blocks — Bhogarai, Baliapala, Basta, Remuna and Jaleshwar — affected. The district has the highest camp deployment, with 72 relief camps providing shelter and basic amenities to 35,740 beneficiaries.
Why It Matters: Scale of the Emergency Response
The scale of Odisha's disaster response underscores the severity of this flood cycle. A total of 47 response teams are currently deployed across affected districts, comprising 21 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and 22 Fire and Emergency Services teams. This multi-agency deployment reflects the coordinated effort required to manage relief operations across three simultaneously affected districts.
River Levels Across the State
Beyond the Subarnarekha, several other major rivers are showing encouraging signs. The Mahanadi at Naraj, the Ib at Sundaragada, the Brahmani at Panposh, the Baitarani at both Anandpur and Akhuapada, the Burhabalanga at NH-5, the Vansadhara at Gunupur, and the Jalaka at Mathani were all recording falling trends as of Thursday morning — a broadly positive signal for the state's overall flood management.
Hirakud Reservoir Status
The Hirakud reservoir, a critical flood-control structure, stood at 627.29 feet on Thursday, with an inflow of 1,41,962 cusecs against an outflow of 78,429 cusecs. Four gates of the reservoir remained open as authorities continue to manage water discharge levels carefully.
Weather Outlook: IMD Issues Yellow Warning
The India Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated locations in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Kataka, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj. These districts have been placed under a Yellow Warning, signalling the need for continued vigilance even as the broader flood situation eases.
The Bigger Picture: Sustained Relief Efforts
The state government has reaffirmed that relief and support measures will continue in affected areas until normalcy is fully restored. Beyond shelter and emergency supplies for displaced residents, cattle feed is also being distributed across all flood-affected districts based on requisitions from local administrations, reflecting attention to the agricultural and livelihood dimensions of the disaster.
The Bottom Line
While Odisha's flood situation is trending in a positive direction, with most rivers receding and rainfall subsiding, the persistence of flooding in Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Baleshwar — coupled with the Subarnarekha's continued danger-level status — means authorities are likely to maintain heightened response operations in the coming days as recovery efforts continue.
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