The Odisha government intensified rescue and relief efforts in flood-hit Ganjam and Gajapati districts on Friday, as thousands of residents remained stranded for over 24 hours following heavy rainfall
triggered by cyclone Arnab, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Around 50,000 people have been severely affected in Ganjam, where authorities are preparing to air-drop food packets in areas cut off by floodwaters. More than 100 rescue teams have been deployed across the two districts, while defence helicopters and the Indian Coast Guard have been called in to assist with relief operations.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, said the administration had not anticipated such severe flooding in Ganjam while preparing for cyclone Arnab.
“As part of the preparedness for cyclone Arnab, the administration was expecting that the calamity could have a major impact in Malkangiri. However, nobody could imagine that such heavy rainfall could occur in Ganjam district and cause severe floods,” Majhi said at a meeting in Bhubaneswar.
He said Patrapur block in Ganjam recorded 54 cm of rainfall within 24 hours, while several other locations in Ganjam and Gajapati also experienced unusually heavy downpours, resulting in widespread flooding.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg told PTI, “The volume of rain in Ganjam in a span of 24 hours was more than the annual average rainfall in the area.”
Garg said the intensity of the flood current prevented National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel from entering several affected locations.
The Indian Coast Guard was subsequently tasked with airlifting stranded residents and dropping food packets in inaccessible parts of Ganjam. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said defence helicopters had also been requisitioned to deliver food packets at 21 identified locations where supplies of food and water could not be transported by other means.
As rainfall eased over the preceding 12 hours, NDRF and ODRAF teams were expected to begin distributing cooked food in areas surrounded by floodwaters.
“It was not possible to reach the affected people even by using modern boats due to the heavy current of flowing water,” Pujari told PTI. He added that over 100 of the 313 rescue teams deployed across Odisha were operating in Ganjam and Gajapati.
Rushikulya River Overflow Floods Villages, Damages Roads
The overflowing Rushikulya River has caused extensive damage across Ganjam, inundating villages, damaging bridges and washing away roads. Several residential areas have also been flooded, with Sorada, Aska, Bhanjanagar and Purushottampur among the worst-hit locations.
Dasamaili village in Dharakote block was submerged under nearly 10 feet of water. Road connectivity between Aska, Berhampur and Sorada was disrupted, while around five feet of water flowed over the Tankachhai-Hinjilicut road, affecting traffic movement.
An official told PTI that a 30-foot breach had developed along the Rushikulya River near Achhuli. A bridge near Patashala was also washed away. Floodwaters entered Bhanjanagar town, Sanakhemundi and Purushottampur as well.
Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan said rescue and relief operations had been stepped up, with the distribution of relief materials beginning on Thursday. However, several areas remained inaccessible, prompting the state government to continue deploying rescue teams, helicopters and the Coast Guard to evacuate stranded residents and deliver essential supplies.
