Bhubaneswar, Aug 25: Odisha has intensified rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas, with 4,94,125 people evacuated and shifted to 957 relief centres across the state, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Tuesday.
The government is closely monitoring the situation in affected districts, including Kalahandi, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda. Officials said 2,282 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas by Tuesday morning, while 95 additional relief centres were opened.
Food assistance has also been expanded for displaced families. The state is operating 944 free kitchens, providing cooked meals to more than 5 lakh flood-affected people. Over the past three days, 2,28,767 people received cooked food through these facilities.
Authorities have also distributed dry-food packets containing chuda and guda to affected residents.
Rescue operations have been strengthened with 99 teams deployed across different locations. These include 28 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, 40 Fire and Emergency Services teams and 30 police and civil-defence teams.
The teams are assisting with evacuation, rescue and relief activities while district administrations continue to monitor vulnerable areas and remain prepared for further evacuations if necessary.
The minister said the flood situation is showing signs of improvement, with water levels in rivers receding. Despite the improvement, authorities are maintaining close surveillance to ensure timely assistance and protect residents in areas that remain vulnerable.
The coordinated relief measures are aimed at ensuring safe shelter, food and emergency support for affected communities as Odisha continues to recover from the latest flooding.