Odisha floods hit six districts, over 2 lakh affected; relief ops underway
Synopsis
More than 2 lakh people across six northern Odisha districts are battling floods, but authorities say the worst may be over — with water levels expected to recede by Saturday afternoon and half the affected areas already showing improvement. No major casualties have been reported, even as 79 rescue teams remain deployed on the ground.
Key Takeaways
Floods are affecting six districts in northern Odisha — Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Jajpur, and Kendujhar — as of 14 August .
Over 2,09,687 people across 52 Blocks , 170 Gram Panchayats , and 429 villages have been impacted.
41,881 people have been evacuated to 127 shelters with food, water, medical, and disability support.
79 response teams — including 39 ODRAF , 7 NDRF , and 33 Fire and Emergency Services units — are deployed.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil confirmed no major casualties so far.
Flood conditions have already improved in 50 per cent of affected areas; full receding expected by Saturday afternoon .
Flood conditions continue to grip six districts in northern Odisha as of 14 August, with more than 2,09,687 people affected across 52 Blocks, 170 Gram Panchayats, and 429 villages. State authorities said the situation is expected to improve substantially over the next couple of days, with water levels likely to recede in most areas by Saturday afternoon.
Affected Districts and Ground Situation
The state government confirmed that Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Jajpur, and Kendujhar districts are currently under flood conditions. The situation was described as comparatively serious in Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Sundargarh due to rising river levels, inundation, embankment breaches, and disruption of road connectivity.
Notably, flood conditions have already improved in nearly 50 per cent of the affected locations, according to officials. Some low-lying areas, however, may remain waterlogged for a couple more days even after the broader situation eases.
Evacuation and Relief Measures
A total of 41,881 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas and housed across 127 shelters. These shelters have been equipped with safe drinking water, sanitation, lighting, and medical support, with special arrangements made for children, pregnant women, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities.
The administration has also ensured availability of cattle feed and other essential supplies in the affected areas, according to officials.
Rescue Forces Deployed
As many as 79 Response Force teams have been deployed across the affected districts to support rescue and relief operations. These include 39 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams. Officials are monitoring the situation round the clock.
What Officials Said
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil told reporters on Friday that rescue, relief, and evacuation operations are being closely monitored. He confirmed that no major casualties have been reported so far. The administration is also keeping a close watch on possible snakebite incidents in flood-affected areas — a recurring secondary hazard during Odisha's monsoon flood events.
What Comes Next
Water levels are expected to recede across most areas by Saturday afternoon, though restoration of road connectivity and normalisation of daily life in the worst-hit pockets could take longer. With the state having managed similar large-scale flood responses in recent years, the focus now shifts to post-flood health monitoring and infrastructure repair in breached embankment zones.
Point of View
NDRF, and district administration — has moved quickly, and the absence of major casualties so far reflects institutional learning from past disasters. But the recurring nature of floods in these northern districts, particularly along embankment-heavy river corridors in Mayurbhanj and Baleshwar, raises a harder question: how much of the damage is preventable with better embankment maintenance and early drainage planning? Relief operations are necessary, but the state's flood story plays out with striking regularity each monsoon season, suggesting that mitigation investment has not kept pace with response capability.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts in Odisha are affected by floods?
Six districts — Baleshwar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Jajpur, and Kendujhar — are currently under flood conditions as of 14 August. The situation is described as comparatively serious in Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Sundargarh due to rising river levels and embankment breaches.
How many people have been affected by the Odisha floods?
More than 2,09,687 people across 52 Blocks, 170 Gram Panchayats, and 429 villages have been affected. Of these, 41,881 have been evacuated to 127 shelters set up by the state government.
Has there been any loss of life in the Odisha floods?
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil confirmed on Friday that no major casualties have been reported so far. Authorities are monitoring potential snakebite incidents, a common secondary hazard during flood events in the region.
When will the flood situation in Odisha improve?
Authorities expect water levels to recede in most areas by Saturday afternoon. However, some low-lying areas may remain waterlogged for a couple more days. Flood conditions have already improved in nearly 50 per cent of the affected locations.
How many rescue teams are deployed in flood-hit Odisha districts?
A total of 79 response force teams are deployed, comprising 39 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units, seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and 33 Fire and Emergency Services teams.
