Flood Situation Will Prevail In Odisha For Four More Days, Saving Lives Is Our Priority: Pramila Mallik

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena on Wednesday informed that the flood situation will prevail in the state for four more days and the next 24 hours is very crucial.

In a press meeting on Wednesday, Minister Mallick said that such flood situation has occurred in the state for the first time since 2011 and the floodwater has breached two more river embankments in Odisha.

“Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, and Kendrapara districts are affected by the flood. Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts are completely affected,” she added.

“Steps are being taken according to the needs and requirements for flood management and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered for zero casualty and we are working on saving every live and property,” she said.

In view of the likely Low-Pressure Area over the Bay of Bengal on August 19, Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik has asked the district administration of Keonjhar, Bhadrak, and Jajpur to be on alert.

SRC, Pradeep Kumar Jena said, “The water level in Mundali barrage is falling at 17,000 cusecs per hour after 9 am and it may reach 25,000 to 30,000 cusecs per hour in the next two to three hours. The flood water from the Hirakud Dam will reach Mundali by tomorrow morning and about nine to 10 lakh cusecs of water will pass through it.”

Additional teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Fire Service have been sent to the affected areas to carry out rescue operations, he added.