Incessant rain lashed the state for the last three days, causing rivers to swell and cross the danger level in many parts of the state. While the rain brought immense misery for people in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack with water overflowing nullahs and gushing into the houses in low-lying areas, the swelling rivers threatened to engulf many areas.

A woman was swept away at Fakirpur village in Keonjhar district following a sudden surge in the Baitarani river. However, she was rescued by the fire brigade officials. Landslides were reported in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. A goods train, that was en route to Sambalpur from Talcher, was derailed when a boulder hit the engine of the train.

Following a forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department about heavy to very heavy rainfall (7cm to 20cm) for the next 24 hours in various parts of the state, special relief commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu reviewed the flood conditions and asked the district collectors to remain prepared to face any eventualities. The district collectors have been authorised to declare schools and anganwadi centres closed taking the ground realities into consideration. On Wednesday, collectors of a number of districts including Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Angul, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nayagarh and Nuapada closed the schools in their respective areas.

While the Jharsuguda district administration announced the closure of schools in the district on Thursday following a warning of heavy rainfall, the Deogarh district administration has announced the closure of all schools and anganwadi centres for the next two days. Sambalpur district collector has cancelled the leaves of all government employees.

The district collectors of Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Bolangir, Bhadrak, Boudh, Baragarh, Balasore and Angul have been asked to remain on high alert as the flood-like situation has emerged in their respective areas.

The Baitarani river has crossed the danger mark at Rajghat in Balasore, while the Bansadhara river is flowing near the danger mark at Kashinagar in the Gajapati district.

Special relief commissioner Sahu, in a media release, said: “Due to deep depression, heavy rainfall is experienced in all parts of the state. The state has received an average rainfall of 83.8mm during the last 24 hours. The highest rainfall of 390.6mm is recorded in the Boudh block of Boudh district. Four blocks have recorded rainfall of more than 300mm, 17 blocks have recorded rainfall of more than 200mm and 68 blocks have recorded rainfall between 100mm to 200mm. People from waterlogging areas are to be evacuated if required and sheltered in safe shelters. They shall be provided with dry or cooked food and drinking water. Adequate anti-snake venom must be available in district headquarter hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres.”

Sahu has requested the director general of fire and emergency services to deploy teams in the districts of Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Angul, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Jajpur and Bhadrak in search and rescue operations. “Anticipating heavy precipitation during the next two days, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are being dispatched to Keonjhar and Sambalpur Rairakhol for any rescue and search-related duties. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed in Bhadrak and Jajpur,” said the release.