Odisha Sanctions Rs 110 Crore Flood Relief for 22 Districts, Worst-Hit Areas Get Largest Share

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 6 (UDN): The Odisha government on Thursday released Rs 110 crore as flood relief assistance for 22 affected districts, with the funds to be transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system based on damage assessments.

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Announcing the relief package, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the financial assistance has been allocated to support families affected by the recent floods and expedite relief and rehabilitation efforts across the state.

Among the worst-affected districts, Balasore has received the highest allocation of Rs 22.03 crore, followed by Jajpur with Rs 20.20 crore and Bhadrak with Rs 20.12 crore, reflecting the extensive damage caused by successive spells of flooding.

Other districts receiving significant assistance include Jagatsinghpur (Rs 8.18 crore), Keonjhar (Rs 6.11 crore), Sambalpur (Rs 5.56 crore), Kendrapara (Rs 5.04 crore), Mayurbhanj (Rs 5.02 crore), Subarnapur (Rs 2.31 crore), Khordha (Rs 2.06 crore) and Boudh (Rs 1.29 crore). Relief funds have also been earmarked for the remaining affected districts in proportion to the losses reported by local administrations.

Pujari said floodwaters continue to remain in several low-lying areas, while river levels in parts of the state are still above normal, posing challenges for restoration work. He added that Odisha has recorded 65 per cent above-normal rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season, resulting in widespread flooding and damage across multiple districts.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department is simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of the flood situation. District administrations and line departments have been asked to submit detailed reports on crop losses, infrastructure damage, embankment breaches and restoration measures.

According to the minister, the final damage assessment, expected after the compilation of reports from all affected districts, will help the government determine whether additional financial assistance and rehabilitation measures are required.

The latest relief package is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to provide immediate support to flood-affected families while accelerating recovery and reconstruction in the worst-hit regions.