THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 3, 2026

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday announced an initial flood relief package of ₹110 crore for people affected by the ongoing floods, directing officials to ensure the immediate release of financial assistance and assuring that additional support would be provided after the final assessment of losses.

The announcement came after the Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged regions to assess the extent of the devastation. Following the review, Majhi deputed ministers to oversee relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations in different affected districts to ensure effective coordination and speedy assistance.

The state government said flood management operations are continuing on a war footing, with the administration according the highest priority to relief measures and working round the clock to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

It said gratuitous relief would continue to be provided to all eligible families in flood-hit areas until the situation improves.

Under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, families whose houses have been completely damaged will receive financial assistance of ₹1.20 lakh for repairs. The government has also announced compensation of ₹6,500 for partially damaged pucca houses, ₹4,000 for partially damaged kutcha houses, ₹8,000 for damaged thatched houses and ₹3,000 for damaged cattle sheds.

Farmers suffering crop and horticulture losses will also receive compensation under the SDRF norms. Small and marginal farmers will be provided ₹8,500 per hectare for damage to non-irrigated land, ₹17,000 per hectare for irrigated land and ₹22,500 per hectare for perennial crops.

The government further announced ex gratia assistance for the families of six persons who lost their lives in the floods. The next of kin of each deceased will receive ₹24 lakh in accordance with SDRF provisions.

Compensation has also been approved for livestock losses, with ₹37,500 to be paid for every milch animal such as a cow or buffalo, ₹32,000 for each draught animal, ₹20,000 for every calf, donkey or mule, and ₹4,000 for each goat or sheep lost in the floods.

According to official figures, the floods have affected 85 blocks, 15 urban local bodies, 656 gram panchayats and 1,458 villages spread across 22 districts. Around 8,63,909 people have been impacted by the deluge, while 2,67,301 people have been evacuated to safer locations as a precautionary measure.

The government said 529 relief camps and 31 animal camps are currently functioning across the affected areas. Relief materials distributed so far include about 41 quintals of rice, 1,115 quintals of flattened rice (chuda), 496 quintals of jaggery, 3,869 polythene sheets and other essential supplies. In addition, 1,816 metric tonnes of cattle feed have been supplied to support livestock owners.

Rescue operations are being undertaken by 199 teams, comprising 20 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 172 Fire Service teams.

Preliminary estimates indicate that six people have died in the floods, while 3,567 houses have been damaged and about 33,458.30 hectares of agricultural land have been affected.

The government said relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations are continuing with full intensity in the worst-hit districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur, where food, safe drinking water, healthcare, veterinary services, polythene sheets and other essential assistance are being provided to affected residents.

It added that an advance assistance of ₹26 crore has already been released to the worst-affected districts to strengthen and expedite the ongoing relief operations.