In response to severe flooding triggered by incessant rains, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg has cancelled all government leaves. Officials currently on leave must rejoin immediately and remain in the field to oversee relief operations.
During a high-level review meeting with District Magistrates, officials noted that 515,000 people across 49 blocks, 5 cities, and 331 village panchayats have been impacted.
Authorities have evacuated 237,000 individuals to safety and established 293 relief camps. Senior officers have also been deployed to heavily affected districts like Bhadrak, Balasore, and Jajpur to coordinate disaster management alongside local administration.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rainfall to persist from August 16 to 18—peaking on the 17th before clearing on the 19th—the state government remains alert.