Bhubaneswar, Jul 30: The death toll from the devastating floods triggered by incessant rainfall across Odisha has risen to seven, while five people remain missing as rescue and relief operations continue in several flood-hit districts. Keonjhar has emerged as the worst-affected district, reporting five deaths and two missing persons, according to official sources.

Among the victims, Urmila Biswal of Singhibilla village in Harichandanpur block died after a wall collapsed on her while she was asleep. In another tragic incident, 26-year-old firefighter Chandan Pattnaik lost his life after suffering an electric shock while draining floodwater from a waterlogged house. A woman and a young girl also died in Telkoi block, while the body of a man who had gone missing after being swept away in Banspal block was recovered on Wednesday.

Search operations are underway for Urmila Patra (23) of Keshadurapal village in Ghasipura block, who was swept away in the Remal River, and Sadashiv Mahanti of Fakirpur, who went missing after his vehicle plunged into a nearly 70-foot breach in the Anandpur Ring Road embankment. Floodwaters have inundated 73 villages across 13 blocks and 11 wards in five urban areas of Keonjhar district, causing extensive damage.

The Baitarani River continued to flow above the danger mark at Champua and Anandpur. Flooding intensified after water was released for the first time from the Kanpur Major Reservoir, inundating several low-lying villages downstream.

In Sambalpur district, an elderly woman, Buduni Munda, died after her house collapsed due to heavy rain. In Jajpur district, one person went missing after being swept away in floodwaters at Similia village, while another resident, Ajay Sahu of Jafarpur, also remains missing. A youth was reported swept away in Balasore's Sadar block. Flood-related incidents have also claimed one life in Solampur village of Bhadrak district.

Bhadrak district has witnessed severe flooding, affecting 322 villages across 72 gram panchayats in Tihidi, Basudevpur, Dhamnagar, Bhadrak and Bhandaripokhari blocks. Thirteen wards in Dhamnagar NAC, Bhadrak Municipality and Dhamra NAC have also been inundated.

Floodwaters of the Baitarani and its tributary Kani River have severely affected 122 villages across Dasarathpur, Jajpur and Korei blocks in Jajpur district. Around 25,196 people have been impacted, while 11,565 residents have been shifted to 37 relief shelters. Officials said 7,596 livestock have been affected and nearly 11,497 hectares of agricultural land remain submerged.

In Mayurbhanj district, 21 blocks have been affected by flooding. Water has entered 46 villages under 38 gram panchayats, while six wards of Baripada Municipality and Udala NAC have also been inundated.

Floods have also disrupted normal life in Nabarangpur district, where the temporary bridge at Beheda on the Umarkote–Raighar road is submerged under nearly five feet of water, snapping road connectivity with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Western Odisha continues to reel under heavy rainfall. Nuapada and Komna blocks have been badly affected after the Pabatola bridge between Sarabang and Amanara collapsed, cutting off connectivity with Chhattisgarh and affecting nearly 30,000 people across three panchayats. Floodwaters reportedly entered a poultry farm, killing around 33,000 chickens.

Several rivers in Balangir district are in spate, prompting authorities to open seven gates of the Suktel reservoir. The Salebhata-Kutasingh railway overbridge has gone under floodwater, while 13 farmers remain stranded in the flooded Under River near Titilagarh. ODRAF teams have been deployed for rescue operations.

Floodwaters of the Mahanadi have disrupted traffic on the Jagannath Road connecting Dhalpur and Harabhanga in Boudh district. Road communication has also been snapped on the Junagarh-Kalampur route in Kalahandi. Rising water levels in the Tel River have inundated riverside villages in Sonepur.

Bargarh town remains waterlogged, with nearly 50 per cent of houses damaged in Chakarkend village. Farmers have expressed concern after erosion damaged the Bargarh-Bheden canal embankment, while water continues to flow over the Ang River bridge near Padampur.

Sambalpur has also witnessed extensive damage, with hundreds of houses affected by heavy rain. Two gates of the Hirakud Dam remain open for water discharge, while the Rairakhol-Boudh road has been washed away, further disrupting transportation.

Authorities have intensified rescue, evacuation and relief operations as floodwaters continue to affect several parts of the state, while the administration remains on high alert amid forecasts of continued rainfall.