Over 37.43 Lakh People Affected by Floods, Heavy Rain in Odisha This Year: Minister

Over 37.43 Lakh People Affected by Floods, Heavy Rain in Odisha This Year: Minister

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): More than 37.43 lakh people across 26 districts of Odisha have been affected by floods and heavy rainfall this year, while seven people have lost their lives, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari informed the State Assembly on Thursday.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Tankadhar Tripathy on relief measures for flood-affected people, Pujari said the state has also reported damage to crops spread over 2,12,533 hectares and 18,067 houses.

The minister said 93 livestock deaths have also been reported in incidents linked to floods and excessive rainfall.

Over Rs 234 Crore Released for Compensation

According to the minister, the state government has released Rs 234 crore 84 lakh 86 thousand to districts under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms towards compensation for losses to personal property and other damages.

Of the amount released, Rs 33.63 crore has been earmarked for house-building assistance, while Rs 151.96 crore has been provided towards crop-loss assistance.

The figures come as Odisha continues to deal with episodes of heavy rainfall and flooding during the 2026 monsoon season. The state administration has maintained disaster preparedness measures amid the latest spell of heavy rain triggered by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Relief Measures Under Review

The government has been monitoring the situation in affected districts and coordinating relief and disaster-response measures through district administrations and the State Emergency Operations Centre.

The Odisha government has also kept disaster-response teams on standby in vulnerable areas amid the latest weather system. The Chief Minister’s Office said 33 ODRAF teams, along with NDRF and Fire Services personnel, had been kept prepared ahead of the current spell of heavy rainfall.

With rainfall continuing in several parts of the state, authorities are keeping a watch on vulnerable areas, water levels and possible damage to infrastructure and property.