Heavy Rain Affects 18,466 People Across 10 Odisha Districts.

BHUBANESWAR,26/09(PPT): Heavy to very heavy rain triggered by a deep depression has affected 18,466 people across 10 districts of southern Odisha, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said.

Koraput, Ganjam, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Rayagada have been affected, with 56 blocks and 272 panchayats reporting rain-related impact. Six villages remain waterlogged, while 14,479 people from low-lying and vulnerable areas have been evacuated to safer locations. As many as 404 houses have been damaged and around two hectares of paddy crop affected.

Relief operations are under way, with cooked food being provided to 14,487 people at relief camps. A total of 27 ODRAF teams have been deployed in seven districts, while six more teams have been kept in reserve. An NDRF team has also been deployed in Gajapati. Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said families whose houses were damaged would be assessed for assistance and eligible homeless families would be covered under government housing schemes.