Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Odisha Evacuates 1.4 Lakh as Mahanadi Flood Threat Grows
Heavy rain and rising rivers have caused flooding in several parts of Odisha.
The government has moved about 1.4 lakh people to safer places.
Many villages and some city areas have been affected.
Balasore has been hit especially hard, with more than 3.5 lakh people affected.
The Mahanadi River is also carrying a large amount of water after releases from Hirakud Dam.
Officials expect the river to reach a minor-flood level near Mundali.
Coastal districts have been warned that more villages could be flooded.
Officials say the situation may improve within 24 hours as some rivers begin to fall.
Odisha has evacuated about 1.4 lakh people from low-lying areas across seven districts over four days.
Flooding has affected 7,834 villages, 1,360 gram panchayats and 219 wards in 38 urban local bodies.
Balasore is among the worst-hit districts, with more than 3.5 lakh people affected and over 67,000 evacuated.
The Mahanadi is expected to reach minor-flood levels at Mundali after excess water was released from Hirakud Dam.
Authorities deployed 64 response teams and alerted several coastal districts to possible inundation and localised flooding.
- Who
- The Odisha government, district administrations, emergency response teams and affected residents.
- What
- About 1.4 lakh people were evacuated as flooding affected northern and coastal Odisha, while the Mahanadi approached minor-flood levels.
- When
- Over the four days before Monday, September 28; peak Mahanadi flooding was expected Monday night.
- Where
- Odisha, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.
- Why
- Flooding followed rising levels in several rivers and the release of excess water through Hirakud Dam.
- People evacuated
- About 1.4 lakh
- Affected villages
- 7,834 villages under 1,360 gram panchayats
- Affected urban areas
- 219 wards in 38 urban local bodies
- Worst-hit district
- Balasore, where more than 3.5 lakh people were affected
- Balasore evacuations
- More than 67,000 people
- Mahanadi threshold
- Around 8 lakh cusecs at Mundali is considered a minor flood; more than 10 lakh cusecs is a major flood
- Emergency response
- 64 response teams deployed