Odisha floods hit 6 lakh people across 18 districts, Mahanadi on alert
Synopsis
Nearly six lakh people are reeling under Odisha's worst flood spread in years — 18 districts, 1,301 villages, and a Mahanadi mid-level alert with nine lakh cusecs bearing down on Mundali Barrage. The next 48 hours are critical, even as the minister says the worst may be passing.
Key Takeaways
5,93,083 people affected across 18 districts of Odisha as of 30 July .
1,76,518 people have been evacuated to safer locations.
Floods have hit 95 blocks , 472 Gram Panchayats , 1,301 villages , and 14 Urban Local Bodies .
Mahanadi River on mid-level flood alert; approximately 9 lakh cusecs expected at Mundali Barrage on Thursday evening.
Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari conducted an aerial survey over Jajpur , Bhadrak , Baleshwar , and Kendujhar .
No fresh rainfall warning issued until 1 August ; water levels in multiple rivers gradually receding.
The flood situation in Odisha remained severe on Thursday, 30 July, with nearly six lakh people across 18 districts continuing to suffer from waterlogging, disrupted road connectivity, crop damage, and power outages. State authorities confirmed that 5,93,083 people have been affected, with 1,76,518 evacuated to safer locations.
Scale of the Disaster
According to the latest government status report, the floods have spread across 95 blocks, 472 Gram Panchayats, 1,301 villages, and 14 Urban Local Bodies statewide. The scale places this among the most widespread flood events in the state in recent years, touching both rural settlements and urban pockets simultaneously.
Mahanadi Flood Warning
The Water Resources Department on Thursday warned of a mid-level flood in the Mahanadi River, directing district administrations to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours. The Chief Engineer of the department stated that a flow of approximately nine lakh cusecs of water was expected at Mundali Barrage on the Mahanadi by Thursday evening.
Officials and engineers with experience in managing previous Mahanadi floods have been deployed to low-lying areas in Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapada districts in anticipation of rising waters. Floodwaters have already begun entering low-lying areas in Badamba and Athagada in Cuttack district.
What the Government Said
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari briefed the media on Thursday, indicating that the overall flood situation was likely to improve as rainfall had nearly stopped across the state and no fresh rainfall warning had been issued until 1 August. He noted that water levels in the Mahanadi were expected to recede as rainfall had subsided in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
'As floodwaters have started entering low-lying areas in Badamba and Athagada in Kataka district, we have spoken to the Kataka District Collector and directed him to ensure that the administration reaches the people before the situation worsens and serves as their Raksha Kavach by ensuring their timely evacuation,' Pujari said.
He specifically appealed for the immediate shifting of children, elderly persons, and women to relief camps, even as water levels were projected to recede in the coming hours. Water levels in several other major rivers — including the Devi, Kushabhadra, Ib, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Vansadhara, Rushikulya, and Jalaka — were gradually receding.
Aerial Survey and Field Assessment
Minister Pujari conducted a comprehensive aerial survey by helicopter over flood-affected and waterlogged areas in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, and Kendujhar districts on Thursday. He was accompanied by Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, and Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Special Relief Commissioner, who also participated in the on-ground assessment.
What Comes Next
With the Mahanadi peak flow expected Thursday evening and rainfall warnings lifted until August 1, authorities are focused on pre-emptive evacuation rather than post-flood relief. The coming 48 hours will be critical in determining whether the situation stabilises or deteriorates further for communities along the river's lower reaches.
Point of View
And the deployment of experienced engineers ahead of the peak flow suggests institutional memory is being applied. But the simultaneous impact on 18 districts — spanning both rivers that are receding and a Mahanadi that is still cresting — exposes the limits of a centralised response model. The minister's appeal to evacuate even as he signals improvement risks mixed messaging that could cost lives if communities read it as an all-clear. The real accountability question is crop damage and power restoration, which rarely make headlines once the water recedes but determine whether affected families recover or slide into debt.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been affected by the Odisha floods?
As of 30 July, the Odisha floods have affected 5,93,083 people across 18 districts, with 1,76,518 evacuated to safer locations. The disaster has spread across 95 blocks, 472 Gram Panchayats, and 1,301 villages.
Which districts are worst affected by the Odisha floods?
The floods have impacted 18 districts in Odisha. Authorities have specifically flagged Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Kendujhar, and Cuttack as areas requiring active monitoring and evacuation.
Why is the Mahanadi River on flood alert?
The Water Resources Department issued a mid-level flood warning for the Mahanadi River after projecting a flow of approximately nine lakh cusecs at Mundali Barrage on Thursday evening. Floodwaters have already begun entering low-lying areas in Badamba and Athagada in Cuttack district.
Is the Odisha flood situation expected to improve?
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the situation was likely to improve significantly as rainfall had nearly stopped and no fresh warning was issued until 1 August. However, authorities cautioned that the next 24 hours remain critical due to the Mahanadi peak flow.
What relief measures has the Odisha government taken?
The government has evacuated over 1.76 lakh people to relief camps and deployed experienced flood-management officials to low-lying areas in four districts. Minister Pujari conducted an aerial survey of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, and Kendujhar and directed district collectors to prioritise evacuation of children, elderly persons, and women.
