Odisha CM Majhi visits flood-hit Koraput, inspects relief efforts
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi visited flood-hit Koraput to assess relief efforts and direct officials to prioritize essential assistance for villagers.
In a direct move to assess the ground reality of the ongoing natural calamity, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the flood-affected Chandili Panchayat in the Kotpad block of Koraput district on Sunday. During his visit, the Chief Minister interacted with local villagers to understand the extent of the devastation and ensured that the administration is providing adequate support to those displaced by the rising waters.
Priority on Essential Assistance
Accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, the Chief Minister conducted a thorough inspection of the relief operations. A key highlight of the visit was the assessment of the quality of cooked food being distributed at various relief shelters. Following the inspection, Majhi issued strict directives to the district administration and relevant departments to prioritize the delivery of essential supplies to the affected populations.
The visit comes at a critical time as heavy monsoon rains and surging river levels have caused widespread flooding across multiple regions in Odisha, severely disrupting road connectivity and damaging homes and agricultural lands.
Severe Impact in Mayurbhanj District
While the Chief Minister focused on Koraput, the flood situation in Mayurbhanj district has reached a critical level. The following areas are facing significant challenges:
- Affected Blocks: 20 blocks, one municipality, and one Notified Area Council (NAC) have been impacted.
- Submerged Villages: In Betnoti block, Patalipura and Kalama are underwater. In Badasahi block, several villages including Salagaon, Managobindapur, Chandanpur, Durgapur, Kendudiha, and Balabhadrapur have been submerged.
- Infrastructure Damage: Water levels on the Budhabalanga Nakhara bridge have risen by 2 to 3 feet, halting traffic on routes connecting Betnoti with Badasahi and Manatri with Baisinga.
Massive Rescue and Relief Operations Underway
To manage the crisis, the state has mobilized significant resources to protect and support the citizenry:
- Evacuation: A total of 10,373 people have been moved to safer locations.
- Shelter & Food: 89 relief camps have been established, supported by 72 free kitchen centers providing meals to residents.
- Deployment: Three teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and 18 fire service teams are actively engaged in rescue operations in the most severely hit areas.
While water has begun to recede in certain areas like Udala, Kaptipada, Bangiriposi, and Saraskana—allowing some roads to reopen—precautionary measures remain in place. Schools from Class 1 to Class 12 have been ordered closed in seven blocks of Mayurbhanj, including Thakurmunda and Khunta, to ensure student safety.
CM Defends Election Commission's Voter Revision
On a separate note, speaking in Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Majhi addressed recent controversies regarding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Defending the process, he emphasized that the exercise is being conducted with complete transparency using digital technology.
Addressing the figure of 13 crore voters often cited in discussions, Majhi clarified that these are not simple deletions. He explained that the figure accounts for 2.8 crore deceased individuals, 3 crore absent voters, 6.3 crore shifted voters, and 1 crore people registered in multiple locations.
The Chief Minister further accused the Congress party of attempting to discredit constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission and the judiciary, following recent developments within the poll panel.