Archive · 3 Sep 2026
North Odisha Floods Inundate 373 Villages as Rivers Recede
Heavy rain caused several rivers in north Odisha to overflow.
Floodwater covered 373 villages in Balasore, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj.
The Subarnarekha River flooded 214 villages in Balasore.
More than 35,000 people in Balasore were moved to safe shelters.
Water levels were still above the danger mark but had started to fall.
Jajpur had 62 flooded villages, while 97 villages and two municipal wards were affected in Mayurbhanj.
Rescue teams, relief camps and government workers were helping residents.
Officials warned that some areas could still face local flooding and waterlogging.
They continued monitoring the situation until conditions returned to normal.
Flooding affected 373 villages across Balasore, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts in north Odisha.
The Subarnarekha inundated 214 Balasore villages across five blocks and remained above its danger mark.
Subarnarekha water at Rajghat fell to 10.84 metres on September 3, above the 10.36-metre danger level.
Balasore evacuated about 35,740 people to 72 shelters, while Jajpur and Mayurbhanj operated 22 and 29 camps respectively.
Authorities deployed 47 rescue teams as river levels generally receded, though officials maintained heightened preparedness.
- Who
- Residents of flood-affected villages, Odisha district administrations, rescue teams and state officials including Dilip Kumar Rout and Rajesh P Patil.
- What
- Flooding inundated 373 villages in north Odisha, prompted evacuations and relief operations, and affected major rivers including the Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Salandi and Budhabalanga.
- When
- The reports cover Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3; the Subarnarekha peak was expected overnight on September 2, while conditions were improving on September 3.
- Where
- Balasore, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts in north Odisha, with additional flood concerns in Bhadrak and other districts.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall, including in upper catchment areas of Jharkhand, raised river levels; excess water was also released through 13 gates of Galudih Barrage in Jharkhand.
- Villages inundated
- 373 villages across Balasore, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj
- Balasore flooding
- 214 villages across Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta, Remuna and Jaleshwar blocks
- Subarnarekha level
- 10.84 metres at Rajghat at noon on September 3, against a 10.36-metre danger level
- Balasore evacuations
- About 35,740 people housed in 72 relief shelters
- Jajpur impact
- 62 villages inundated in Dasarathpur block; 22 camps sheltered 7,745 beneficiaries
- Mayurbhanj impact
- 97 villages and two Baripada municipal wards affected; 29 camps sheltered 10,501 beneficiaries
- Rescue deployment
- 47 teams: 21 ODRAF, four NDRF and 22 Fire and Emergency Services teams
- Water releases
- Excess water was released through 13 Galudih Barrage gates; Hirakud reservoir water was discharged through four sluice gates
