Odisha Battles Flood-Like Situation in Three Districts; Evacuation Efforts Underway
BHUBANESWAR, Odisha – July 27, 2025: A flood-like situation occurred in three districts of Odisha—Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur—as major rivers in these districts swelled and inundated low-lying areas. Thus, the government of Odisha has started evacuation processes to move the affected residents to safer places while keeping a close watch on the developing situation. As per the officials, major rivers like Subarnarekha, Baitarani, and Jalka are currently flowing at and above their danger levels, following incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas in both Odisha and neighboring Jharkhand.
Rising River Levels
The Baitarani River recorded a height of 19.09 meters at 2 AM on Sunday at Akhuapada, which is a dangerous level exceeding its danger mark of 18.33 meters, even though it declined slightly afterward. Meanwhile, the Jalaka River at Mathani, reaching a height of 6.67 meters, surpassed its dangerous level at 6.50 meters. As of now, the Subarnarekha River at Rajghat in Balasore district was at a height of 10.2 meters, just about nearing the danger level of 10.36 meters, with predictions suggesting it would rise to 11.4 meters by Sunday night.
Affected Areas and Evacuation
Floodwaters will continuously advance into the inhabited habitations of the Dhamnagar area, which is situated in the Bhadrak district, due to flooding in Baitarani. Subarnarekha is expected to keep rising and hence flood blocks like Bhogarai, Baliapal, Basta, and Jaleswar in Balasore district. District administrations in Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore have been alerted and are now expected to expedite evacuation and relief operations. People who live in low-lying areas, especially those who live in most “kutcha” houses, are being relocated to safe places and cyclone shelters.
Underlying Cause and Government Action
However, heavy rain in the upper catchment areas, especially the districts of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar in Odisha, as well as discharge by Jharkhand’s Galudih Barrage into the Subarnarekha, are responsible for increased river levels. For now, the intensity of rainfall within Odisha itself has reportedly decreased, but upstream inflows still include a threat.
The Department of Water Resources has indeed established a 24×7 state flood cell for close monitoring situations. Assigned to ground-level monitoring on behalf of the government, two chief engineer-rank officers have been posted to the zones of the Subarnarekha and Baitarani river basins. The government has also announced the cancellation of all leave for officials and instructed them to be ready on high alert. Teams from ODRAF, NDRF, and Fire Services were dispatched to sensitive areas with enough boats designated for rescue operations.
Localized Effects and Relief Measures
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj inspected several sites on the Baitarani embankment in Bhadrak district. The Jajpur Collector and other senior officials have visited vulnerable areas at the Nuapatna locality of Dasarathpur block. A breach on the right bank of the Jambhira River embankment at Bodhi in the Rasgovindpur block of Mayurbhanj district was detected but has been closed with sandbags. In Sundargarh, a landslide occurred that blocked a stretch of NH-520, between Koida and Chunaghati, which has now been cleared.
Despite localized scenarios of flood-like conditions, such assumptions are ruled out for major flood situations across the whole state, as noted by Engineer-In-Chief, Water Resources Department, Chandra Sekhar Padhi, stating, Though the Mahanadi and Brahmani river systems are quite stable now and the water level at Hirakud Dam remains under strict control, being well below its entire capacity.
