Odisha Government to Prepare Master Plan to Prevent Landslide-Related Deaths

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government will soon prepare a comprehensive master plan to prevent loss of human lives due to landslides, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Saturday.

Pujari said that the government will identify landslide-prone zones across hilly regions of the state to ensure better preparedness and timely response. He added that the process of providing compensation to people affected by recent landslides in various districts has already begun.

District Collectors have been instructed to assess the extent of damage and submit detailed reports, based on which compensation will be distributed to affected families by tomorrow, the Minister informed.

The government also plans to identify low-lying roads prone to waterlogging and take preventive measures to ensure uninterrupted connectivity during heavy rainfall. The Malkangiri District Collector has been specifically directed to identify such roads and carry out repairs by raising their height.

Recent heavy rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system caused widespread damage in Gajapati, Rayagada, and Kalahandi districts. While residents in Rayagada were relocated to safer areas, nine villages in Kalahandi were marooned, with Gajapati district being the worst affected.

Minister Pujari assured that the situation is now under control, adding that Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena personally monitored relief and rescue operations for two days in the affected regions.