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Monsoon rains and swollen rivers have caused severe devastation in the eastern coastal state of Odisha. The flood situation in six major districts of the state has become so serious that more than 500 villages have completely turned into islands. According to official figures and ground reports, the lives of more than 2.7 lakh (two lakh seventy thousand) people have been directly affected by this natural disaster. Many villages have been completely cut off from district headquarters and main roads.
Flood water has entered residential areas, primary schools, health centers and thousands of acres of flourishing crops. People taking shelter on rooftops and high embankments are waiting for food, pure drinking water and medicines. Due to the sudden rise in water level, people did not even get time to remove essential items and cattle from their homes, due to which lakhs of families are facing a deep crisis of livelihood and existence.
Situation worsened due to rising rivers and release of water from dams: What are the main causes of floods?
The reason behind this devastating flood in Odisha is mainly the heavy rains caused by the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and heavy water coming from the upper catchment areas of the neighboring states. Major rivers like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalang are flowing above or near the danger mark.
Due to continuous heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of Mahanadi basin, especially in Chhattisgarh and Western Odisha, the water level of the historic Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur reached near its maximum level. Keeping in mind the safety of the reservoir, the authorities had to open several sluice gates, due to which the flow of millions of cusecs of water in the low-lying areas increased rapidly. Along with this, due to high tide coming in the sea in the coastal areas, the water of the rivers is not able to flow into the sea rapidly, due to which the pressure of backwater has spread to the villages and settlements.
Ground condition of affected districts: Life stopped in Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur.
The most lethal impact of floods is being seen in the coastal and delta areas of Odisha. Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri, Bhadrak and Baleshwar districts have been most affected by this deluge. Many rivers in the low lying areas of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur have broken the embankments and started flowing into residential areas.
Hundreds of kutcha houses have collapsed, while the ground floors of pucca houses are submerged in water. There is a blackout situation in many areas due to fallen communication networks and electric poles. Besides, thousands of cattle are in distress due to lack of fodder and being washed away in the water. Farmers’ paddy crops are on the verge of rotting due to submergence in water, which has dealt a huge blow to the rural economy. There is a shortage of essential commodities in the local markets, due to which the problems of the general public have increased manifold.
Relief and rescue operation on war footing: Major rescue operation of NDRF, ODRAF and boats
Considering the seriousness of the situation, the State Administration and Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has put the entire system on high alert. Dozens of teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service are working with motorboats to rescue people stranded in remote villages.
Elderly people, pregnant women and children trapped in floods are being transported to safe camps (flood shelters) through airlift and boats on priority basis. Hot cooked food, dry ration and basic facilities are being provided in these relief camps run by the government. In areas where boats are difficult to reach, dry food packets, drinking water bottles and essential medicines are being air-dropped with the help of helicopters. District Magistrates have been given strict instructions to keep a 24-hour vigil and increase patrolling on the embankments.
Double crisis of pandemic and waterlogging: New challenges before the health department
As the flood waters recede, the threat of diseases becomes the biggest headache. Due to stagnant and contaminated water, the possibility of spread of diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and skin related infectious diseases has increased. Apart from this, there is great panic among the people due to the emergence of poisonous snakes and insects in waterlogged areas.
Odisha Health Department has deployed mobile health units (mobile medical teams) in the affected areas. Halogen tablets (water purifying tablets), ORS packets, anti-venom injections and necessary antibiotics are being distributed to the flood victims through ASHA and ANM workers. Disinfection of drinking water sources like tube wells and wells is also being started on priority basis to prevent the spread of waterborne epidemics.
An examination of long-term solutions and disaster management: the way forward
Odisha is a state that has set an example across the world in cyclone and disaster management over the past decades, but the frequency of floods still remains a complex challenge. According to meteorologists, climate change has caused unprecedented changes in monsoon rainfall patterns—extreme rainfall in a short period of time (cloudburst-like conditions) completely overwhelms the drainage system.
To deal with this flood tragedy, immediate relief as well as long-term policy steps are needed. These include strengthening of river embankments, creation of scientific drainage system in the delta region, desilting and coordination of real-time water flow data with neighboring states. At present, the first priority of the administration is to keep the 2.7 lakh affected citizens safe and get normal life back on track as soon as possible.