A severe flood situation continues to grip Odisha’s Balasore district as over 50 villages remain marooned, with one person reported missing after being swept away by surging waters from the Subarnarekha River. The incident occurred in Bishnupur gram panchayat area of Baliapal block, where the young man was caught in the flood’s fury on Saturday. Authorities have launched a massive rescue operation, deploying Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to assist with evacuations and relief efforts.
The crisis was triggered after excess water was allegedly released from Chandil Dam in Jharkhand without prior warning, leading to flash floods across four blocks: Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta, and Jaleswar. Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi criticized the dam authorities, calling it “criminal misconduct.” Floodwaters entered homes, agricultural fields, and cut off road access to several villages, leaving boats as the only viable mode of transportation. While water levels of the Subarnarekha river have now started receding, officials warn it may take four to five days for normalcy to return.
Meanwhile, hundreds of affected residents have taken shelter along river embankments under makeshift polythene tents. Health teams have been deployed on the ground, actively distributing ORS and halogen tablets across submerged areas. According to the Balasore Collector, essential medicines have been stocked at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Sub-Centres, and with ASHAs to prevent disease outbreaks. Authorities remain on high alert as recovery and relief operations continue across the affected zones.
