Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Fresh floods hit Odisha, 41,000 evacuated as rivers swell
Very heavy rain fell in Odisha for two days.
The rivers became so full that water spilled over onto the land.
This is called a flood.
Water entered towns and villages in several districts of the state.
More than 41,000 people had to leave their homes to be safe.
The government helped them move to relief centres, where they got cooked food, clean drinking water and medicines.
Rescue teams came to help people and move them to safer places.
One district, Jajpur, has now been flooded four times this rainy season.
The weather department warned that more very heavy rain could fall in some districts.
Fishermen were told to stay away from the sea until the weather improved.
Two days of heavy rain caused fresh floods in Odisha, affecting Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar — with one report also naming Sundargarh, making six districts rather than five.
More than 41,000 people were evacuated, over 127 relief centres were opened, and about 3,000 people were shifted to safety in Balasore district alone.
Reports differ on rescue strength: one says 79 teams (39 ODRAF, 7 NDRF, 33 fire service) were deployed, while others say 17 teams (10 ODRAF, 7 NDRF) plus fire services.
Jajpur is facing its fourth flood this monsoon, after deluges on July 6, July 18, August 8 and August 13, with water entering villages through a breach at Dovabil Patana.
The IMD issued an orange warning for Sundargarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda and advised fishermen not to enter the Bay of Bengal until the morning of August 15.
- Who
- Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil (named Rajesh Kumar Patil in one report) is leading evacuations with district administrations, supported by ODRAF, NDRF and fire services teams.
- What
- Fresh floods after two days of heavy rainfall hit at least five Odisha districts (six per one report), inundating villages and farmland and forcing mass evacuations to relief centres.
- When
- Reported on Friday, August 14, 2026; Jajpur's latest flood occurred on August 13, and the IMD advisory runs until the morning of August 15.
- Where
- North Odisha, India — Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, with Sundargarh also named in one report.
- Why
- A depression over Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal brought heavy rainfall that swelled rivers including Jalaka, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Salandi and Kani, causing overflows and embankment breaches.
- Affected districts
- Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar (Sundargarh also named in one report)
- Villages affected
- 429 villages across 52 blocks (per one report)
- Evacuations
- Over 41,000 people; villages in 45 gram panchayats; about 3,000 shifted in Balasore district
- Rescue teams deployed
- 79 per one report (39 ODRAF, 7 NDRF, 33 fire service); 17 per other reports (10 ODRAF, 7 NDRF) plus fire services
- Rivers in spate
- Jalaka, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Salandi, Kani
- Jalaka river level at Mathani
- 7.4 metres against a danger level of 6.5 metres
- IMD warnings
- Orange alert for Sundargarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda; heavy rain forecast for 14 other districts; squally winds of 40-50 kmph
- Jajpur floods this monsoon
- Four rounds: July 6, July 18, August 8 and August 13
