Odisha Govt Deploys Top Officials to Malkangiri Amid Severe Flood Crisis

Bhubaneswar: Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in southern Odisha, particularly in Malkangiri district, which has been cut off from Koraput due to flooding. The state government has deployed senior officials to oversee disaster management efforts in the affected areas.

According to the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), floodwaters have inundated all bridges along the Pangam-Motu Road in Malkangiri, disrupting road connectivity in eight places. Six villages in Malkangiri and Kalimela blocks have been affected, and 504 people have been evacuated to four relief camps. Two units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in the district.

In Koraput, 36 villages in six blocks have been impacted by the floods. While 150 houses have suffered partial damage, road communication between Digapur and Kundra has been disrupted due to flooding on the Biri Nadi bridge. In total, six places have lost connectivity. Fifty-six people have been shifted to two relief camps and provided with cooked food. One unit of ODRAF has been deployed in the district.

Malkangiri recorded the highest rainfall of 253 mm in the past 24 hours. Several other blocks in Malkangiri and Koraput districts also received significant rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, including Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, Balangir, Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangapur, and Puri. Orange and yellow warnings have been issued for other districts.

The state government has instructed field-level officials to be prepared for any eventuality, including landslides. Engineers have been directed to monitor embankments and drainage channels, while urban local bodies have been tasked with making arrangements for dewatering.

The government has deployed six units of ODRAF in Malkangiri and two each in Koraput/Jeypore, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Boudh and Balangir. Twelve more teams are on standby. Six units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been moved to Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, with two more in reserve.