Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a Rs 1,000 crore special relief package for people affected by the latest floods in six districts of the state. The package will support relief, rehabilitation, agriculture and livelihood restoration as the flood situation continues to affect large parts of northern Odisha.
The six affected districts are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Kendrapara. According to the state government, more than 9.4 lakh people across 1,381 villages in 74 blocks have been affected by the floods. More than 3.7 lakh people have been shifted to safer locations, while around 550 relief camps are providing cooked food to those displaced.
Majhi said the Rs 1,000 crore allocation is based on a preliminary assessment and that the amount could be increased after a detailed evaluation of the damage. The government has directed officials to assess losses and ensure that financial assistance reaches affected families and communities.
A major focus of the package will be on farmers who have suffered crop losses. Assistance will include agricultural inputs and seeds, while damaged lift irrigation projects will also be repaired. The government has also planned support for people whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the floods.
The Chief Minister said Odisha received more than 1,100 mm of rainfall between June and August, around 34 per cent above normal and the highest in 25 years. The unusually heavy rainfall has contributed to the latest spell of flooding across several northern districts.
Majhi recently visited flood-hit areas of Bhadrak and Jajpur, travelling by road, boat and on foot to review relief arrangements and interact with affected residents. He also inspected relief camps and took feedback from people about food, shelter and other facilities.
The state has deployed 45 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, eight National Disaster Response Force teams and 65 fire service teams across the six districts for rescue and relief operations. The government has said preventing further loss of life remains its top priority.
Free kitchens will continue operating for evacuated residents until conditions improve. Officials are also monitoring the flood situation and assessing damage to homes, roads, irrigation infrastructure and other public assets.
With thousands of families still dependent on relief measures, the government’s immediate challenge is to ensure that the announced package translates into timely assistance on the ground. The final scale of support will be determined after the detailed damage assessment is completed.
