Odisha flood update: 1.4 lakh moved as Mahanadi keeps delta districts on alert

BHUBANESWAR, September 29, 2026: Odisha remains on flood watch despite a sharp drop in rainfall. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Monday that about 1.4 lakh people had been moved from vulnerable areas to safer locations over the preceding four days. The figure covers a wider period and area than the district-by-district figures in a separate State Emergency Operation Centre assessment; the two should not be added together.

The immediate concern has shifted toward the Mahanadi delta. Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief Dilip Kumar Rout said administrations in Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara had been alerted to possible inundation in low-lying areas. On Monday evening, around 8 lakh cusecs of water was flowing past Mundali near Cuttack after releases from the Hirakud reservoir. Thirty Hirakud gates were open at that time. Those measurements describe Monday’s conditions, not a confirmed reading for Tuesday.

Where people have been affected

The State Emergency Operation Centre’s Monday assessment identified flooding or rain impacts in Koraput and Nabarangpur in the south, and Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj farther north. It reported 49,590 people evacuated in Balasore, 8,278 in Bhadrak, 3,876 in Jajpur and 2,354 in Mayurbhanj. In Koraput, it recorded 2,684 evacuations; in Nabarangpur, 2,393. The centre reported relief camps operating in all six districts and said 64 response teams, including Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and National Disaster Response Force teams, had been deployed.

Those six-district counts are a dated snapshot, not a fresh statewide total for September 29. Pujari’s approximately 1.4 lakh figure refers to people moved over four days across a broader area. Evacuation and shelter numbers can change as residents leave camps or additional communities need help.

Earlier heavy rain also affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Malkangiri. In the north, rising levels in rivers including the Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Jalaka contributed to flooding. By Monday, the State Emergency Operation Centre said rainfall had declined substantially and described the overall situation as under control, while warning that local flooding still required attention. Less rain does not immediately remove the danger where river water is still moving downstream.

Warnings and the Mahanadi watch

Officials have described the Mahanadi event as a minor flood, but that classification should not be read as an all-clear for riverside households. Rout warned that water could spread into low-lying villages in the delta. In Cuttack district, flooding had reached farmland around Banki, and water over a bridge near Banki disrupted access to several panchayats on Monday.

The India Meteorological Department forecast light to moderate rain at isolated places over the following days. Its warning issued Monday also covered thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in several districts into Tuesday morning. Residents should check the latest district-specific forecast rather than rely on an earlier warning: rainfall alerts can expire even while river flooding continues.

District administrations have been told to watch embankments and respond to waterlogged roads and underpasses. The State Emergency Operation Centre also flagged risks around weak structures, unpaved roads and slopes. People near a rising river should follow local evacuation instructions promptly, even if their own village has not received fresh rain.

What residents should do

• Move early if instructed. Ask local officials which shelter is serving your area. Take essential medicines, identification, drinking water if available, and a charged phone without delaying departure to collect possessions.
• Do not enter floodwater to travel. Avoid submerged roads, bridges and underpasses, whether on foot or in a vehicle. Use only routes cleared by local authorities.
• Stay away from electrical hazards. Do not touch fallen wires or electrical equipment in standing water. Keep children away from riverbanks, drains and flooded fields.
• Keep checking local instructions. Follow district administration announcements for shelter arrangements, road closures and any further evacuation orders. For disaster assistance, Odisha’s state emergency control-room number is 1070; the district emergency number is 1077.

Residents returning home should wait for official clearance and confirm that their route, drinking water and electrical supply are safe. Conditions can differ sharply between districts—and between neighbouring villages—while the floodwater works its way through the river system.