Bhubaneswar, July 27 (NationPress) A total of six districts in Odisha are facing a significant flood crisis due to swelling rivers triggered by persistent rainfall over recent days caused by a low-pressure system. The impacted districts are Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Sundargarh, and Keonjhar.

In a press briefing, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Deoranjan Kumar Singh announced that the state government has accelerated the evacuation and distribution of relief supplies in the affected regions.

Singh further reported that over 11,000 individuals have been impacted by the flooding. Approximately 1,000 residents from vulnerable areas have been relocated to safer locations and accommodated in nine shelters across Mayurbhanj and Balasore.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Suresh Pujari, conducted a review of the situation during a high-level meeting on Sunday.

Minister Pujari and SRC Singh engaged with the collectors of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh, along with the Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department, via a virtual platform.

The revenue minister has urged the collectors to hasten the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas and ensure they receive adequate relief.

SRC Singh highlighted that five teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, and 26 fire services teams have been deployed in Balasore. In Mayurbhanj, one ODRAF team and 23 fire services teams are present. Bhadrak has one ODRAF and one NDRF team, along with 13 fire services teams, while Jajpur has one ODRAF team and 14 fire services teams deployed.

During the press conference, Singh noted that the water levels of all rivers in the state, except for the Subarnarekha River, are declining. He also mentioned that due to the rising water levels in the Subarnarekha River, authorities are closely monitoring the situation in Balasore. The water levels in the Baitarani and Jalaka rivers, however, are receding. Night patrols have been intensified in the flood-affected regions.

SRC Singh stated that the district administration is implementing all necessary measures to ensure access to clean drinking water for residents in the flood-impacted areas. Arrangements are being made for water purification in forested regions and the provision of safe drinking water, with adequate supplies of antivenom available.

As required, residents will receive cooked meals until normalcy is restored.

Additional Relief Commissioner Manish Agarwal has been assigned to oversee the restoration and relief efforts in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts. He confirmed that residents in the affected areas will continue to receive cooked meals until the situation stabilizes. Agarwal is tasked with monitoring both the flood scenario and relief operations in these districts.