Bhubaneswar, August 26: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday visited flood-affected areas of Jajpur district to assess the situation and monitor ongoing relief efforts.
Accompanied by the local MLA and the district collector, Pujari inspected the breach on the embankment of the Kani river, a tributary of the Baitarani, which has aggravated the flooding in the region. He also interacted with affected residents and reviewed the rescue and relief measures currently underway.
The minister informed that a large number of people have been evacuated from inundated areas and are being sheltered in relief camps. “Cooked meals, dry rations, and fodder for livestock are being provided to all affected families,” he assured.
Flooding continues to impact over 170 villages across Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts in north Odisha for the second consecutive day. According to officials, 130 villages in Baliapal, Bhograi, and Jaleswar blocks of Balasore are submerged due to the overflowing Subarnarekha river, while around 45 villages in Jajpur remain inundated by Baitarani floodwaters. Dhamnagar and Bhandaripokhari blocks in Bhadrak district have also been hit.
In addition, parts of Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts are reeling under flood conditions.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the formation of a fresh low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast early Tuesday. The system is expected to intensify and move west-northwest over the next two days.
The IMD has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha from August 26 to 27, with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) likely in districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, and Bolangir.
Additionally, very heavy rainfall alerts have been issued for Gajapati, Rayagada, Nayagarh, and Kandhamal districts on August 26 and 27.
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