Floods Ravage Ganjam, Gajapati; Rescue Operations Intensified

Relentless rainfall following Cyclone Arnab has triggered severe flooding in Odisha’s Ganjam and Gajapati districts, leaving hundreds of villages submerged and thousands of residents stranded. Aska, Dharakote, Sorada and Bhanjanagar are among the worst-affected areas.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by other ministers, is scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of the affected districts today to review the flood situation and assess the extent of damage.

The Indian Coast Guard has deployed helicopters to rescue people trapped in remote and inaccessible villages. Teams from the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services are also carrying out evacuation and relief operations. The Rushikulya river has crossed the danger level at several points, flooding nearby villages and low-lying areas. Waterlogging has also been reported in Berhampur, Aska and Bhanjanagar.

Over 1,000 villages have suffered significant damage due to the floods. A central government team is expected to visit Odisha shortly to assess the destruction caused by Cyclone Arnab.

Rail services have also been disrupted, with the East Coast Railway cancelling nine trains and diverting 14 others due to waterlogging on railway tracks and bridges.

Educational institutions in Ganjam and Gajapati will remain closed until tomorrow. Schools and colleges in flood-affected parts of Sundargarh district have also been shut for the day.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of thunderstorms and lightning in several parts of Odisha, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated locations along the southern coastal belt.