Bhubaneswar: Heavy inflow of water from Jharkhand's Chandil Dam into the Subarnarekha River due to low pressure area-triggered heavy rainfall has created flood situation in northern Odisha. However, the situation remains under control, officials said.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari today reviewed the current situation. According to official sources, 77 wards across Gram Panchayats and municipal areas in Mayurbhanj district have been affected. Over 5,000 people have been shifted to various relief centres. To support them, 44 free kitchens are functioning across affected areas. Seven teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and seven Fire Service units have been deployed in the district.

In Balasore, 35 Gram Panchayats and wards have been impacted, leading to the evacuation of 1,138 people. Food arrangements have been made at six different locations. Four ODRAF teams are already on the ground, while two more are being dispatched from Cuttack. Eight Fire Service teams are also engaged in rescue and relief efforts. Additionally, NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams are stationed in both Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts.

Areas including Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar, Bhograi, Remuna, and Sadar are among the worst-affected. The state government is in constant coordination with authorities in Jharkhand to monitor and manage the situation. Though 7 to 8 breaches had occurred in embankments, most have already been repaired.

Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said that proactive measures have been taken to ensure access to safe drinking water during the floods. Special instructions have been issued to sanitise all drinking water sources immediately in submerged areas. He assured that no person will face  shortage of clean drinking water.