Latest news with #ODRAF
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Floodwaters start to recede but several villages still flooded in 6 districts
Bhubaneswar/Balasore/Jajpur: Several villages in six districts remained marooned on Monday even as water levels in rivers like the Baitarani, Brahmani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalaka started receding. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bodies of Santosh Jena of Chandakuda, 30, and Purnachandra Mohanty of Chahata, 72, who were swept away by the floodwaters in Jajpur district on Sunday, were recovered by fire service personnel on Monday. Floodwaters from the Baitarani and its tributary Kani entered new areas in Jajpur on Monday, leaving hundreds of families stranded. Higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited flood-affected areas in Bhadrak district on Monday. He said floodwaters, which entered villages and farmland, may take some days to drain out. In Kendrapada, villages under Aul and Pattamundai blocks such as Singhgao, Krushnadaspur, Penthapala and Gobindapur, have been cut off by flash floods caused by the swelling Brahmani, Baitarani and Kani. Damaged roads have forced locals to use motor tubes for rescuing stranded people. In Balasore, the situation has marginally improved as water levels of the Subarnarekha and Jalaka started receding, bringing some respite to residents of low-lying areas in Basta, Jaleswar, Baliapal and Bhograi blocks. A total of 18,000 people were affected in the four blocks, and over 5,000 are being provided food from the community kitchens, official sources said. The Balasore administration has mounted massive relief operations, setting up 16 free kitchens and deploying 17 ODRAF teams and 13 fire service units for rescue and relief work. Medical teams, including Asha workers and ANMs, are conducting health check-ups, while veterinary teams are attending to livestock. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We are focused on stabilising the situation. Relief materials are being distributed, and rescue teams are active. Medical and veterinary teams are working round the clock," said Balasore collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas. Essential medicines, ORS sachets and healthcare services are being delivered in the flood-hit areas. Dedicated medical teams, including Asha workers and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), are conducting regular health check-ups in the affected villages. Veterinary teams are also mobilised and are conducting health check-ups and vaccination camps in affected villages to prevent disease outbreaks among livestock. Districts like Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur are facing flood for the 5th time this season, sources said. Post-flood disaster management has become crucial for govt authorities to ensure safe drinking water and check the spread of diseases in affected areas. There was no major rainfall reported in the state on Monday, while the IMD predicted light to moderate rainfall in isolated places on Tuesday.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Devotees head for Shiva shrines ahead of 1st Monday of Shravan
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Devotees carrying water in pots and balancing them on their shoulders, attached to decorated slings, were spotted along the roads as they headed to shrines of Lord Shiva ahead of the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan. District administrations have made elaborate arrangements at water bodies and Shiva temples across the state to ensure the safety and security of the devotees. "This year we issued guidelines for devotees to fetch water only from Gadagadia Ghat at Mahanadi river and not from any other place to avoid accidents. We also deployed ODRAF and fire personnel for emergencies. We put up steel barricades, temporary toilets, and changing rooms for the convenience of devotees," Cuttack mayor Subash Singh said on Sunday. Last year, three devotees had drowned while fetching water from the Mahanadi. Police have begun patrolling to ensure the safety of Kanwariyas. Amidst chants of 'Bol Bom', the Kanwariyas began their pilgrimage. Undeterred by rain and humidity, the devotees completed their journey to seek blessings and spiritual solace. Makeshift tents have been put up along the road where devotees can rest on their way. "I have been taking up the Shravan trail for the last seven years and cover the distance from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar on Mondays to pour water on Lord Lingaraj. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Biguaçu (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo It is my faith in the Lord and his blessings," said 38-year-old Samesh Sahu, an employee in a private company. Major Shiva shrines across the state, like Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath Temple in Puri, Dhabaleswar in Cuttack, Akhandalamani Temple in Aradi, Bhadrak, Kapilas in Dhenkanal, Gupteswar in Koraput, Ladubaba in Nayagarh and others have made elaborate arrangements for the Shravan month. Barricades have been erected in front of the temples for the smooth darshan of devotees. "The experience during Shivratri at Lingaraj Temple was not very pleasant. We hope during the Shravan month, the authorities will ensure a smooth darshan for devotees," said Smaranika Swain, a woman Kanwariya who travelled from Cuttack.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt gives nod to 10 more ODRAF units
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen disaster management capabilities, the state govt has approved the establishment of 10 new Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units, raising the total strength to 30 units across the state. Previously, 16 districts had the presence of 20 units. Though the new units will come up in 10 districts, comprising Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Puri, Ganjam (Berhampur), Cuttack (rural), Keonjhar and Sambalpur, two of them (Ganjam and Cuttack) already had two and one units, respectively. With this expansion, ODRAF's presence now extends to 24 districts. According to a notification issued by the state home department on July 7, the govt has created 1,035 new posts to staff 23 units, including the 10 new ones. "This expansion represents govt's focus on building a more resilient Odisha. With these additional units, we can respond more swiftly and effectively to both natural and man-made disasters," a senior police official said. ODRAF was set up in 2001, which came in response to the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone that claimed over 10,000 lives in the state. Each ODRAF unit comprises about 45 highly trained police personnel drawn from various forces, including from Odisha special armed police, armed police reserve, India reserved battalion and specialized India reserve battalions. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo by Taboola by Taboola "Our disaster management mechanism is one of the best in the country. ODRAF along with the Odisha fire and emergency service have been playing key roles. Their military-style training enables them to handle diverse emergency situations effectively," the official said. According to govt, the ODRAF personnel have undergone specialized training in rescue operations, first aid and disaster response. "Their expertise has proven invaluable during several calamities, from floods to cyclones. Our goal is to minimize response time during emergencies. These additional units will significantly enhance our disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities across the state," the police official added. ODRAF, used as a pre- and post-disaster response force, works in coordination with the office of the special relief commissioner to respond to crisis situations.
The Print
29-06-2025
- Climate
- The Print
Odisha govt sounds flood alert in Balasore, Mayurbhanj as major rivers in spate
'The Balasore district administration has already started evacuating the people in low-lying areas of Baliapal and Basta blocks with the support of ODRAF and fire and emergency services teams. All are advised to move to nearby shelters to prevent any type of mishaps during the flood,' an official said. Rivers such as Budhabalang, Subarnarekha, Jalaka, and Sono are witnessing rising water levels and may cause flooding by Monday, he warned. Bhubaneswar/Balasore/Baripada, Jun 29 (PTI) The Odisha government on Sunday placed the Balasore and Mayurbhaj district administrations on high alert with an impending flood threat looming over the northern part of the state as several major rivers in the region continue to swell, an official said. This apart, the administration is also using a public address system to make people aware of the impending flood in the low-lying areas of Balasore, he said, adding that sandbags have been strategically deployed in large numbers to strengthen vulnerable riverbanks and prevent flooding. Safety measures are in full swing to protect lives and property, he said. According to another official, people of around nine villages under the Saraskana and Rasgovindpur blocks of Mayrbhanj, have been evacuated to safe places and provided cooked food and relief. The Mayurbhanj district administration declared a holiday for all schools on Monday. The Anganwadi centres will remain closed for three days in the district while the supplementary high school certification will continue, the official said. To oversee the situation on the ground in flood management, an engineer-in-chief and an engineer have been deployed in Balasore. Water levels of Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Subarnarekha rivers were rising fast and have crossed the danger levels. The water levels of all the rivers will rise further by midnight of Sunday, Central Water Commission sources said. 'In this backdrop, peak flood is expected in Subarnarekha at 11.25 metres at midnight, in river Budhabalanga at 8.20 metres at 9 am on Monday and in river Jalakaat at 6.82 metres at 6 pm on Sunday,' another official said. The State Flood Cell in the Department of Water Resources is working round-the-clock and the situation is being closely monitored, he said. 'Balasore collector has been alerted to expedite evacuation and relief operations,' he said. Meanwhile, a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts and northern Odisha is likely to receive heavy rainfall, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin on Sunday. 'Under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation over southwest Bangladesh and Gangetic West Bengal, another low-pressure area formed over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts at 5.30 am on June 29,' it said. The system is likely to move slowly west-northwestwards across North Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand during the next two days. The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall in the state from June 29 to July 4. 'Some places in the state may also witness very heavy rainfall till July 1,' it said. 'The low pressure is likely to trigger very heavy rains in parts of Odisha between Sunday and Tuesday. As the southwest monsoon is active over the state, heavy rainfall activity is expected to prevail next week,' said Manorama Mohanty, the director Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar. PTI COR AAM MNB AAM BDC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
United News of India
26-06-2025
- Climate
- United News of India
Odisha to conduct a comprehensive review of disaster preparedness: CM Majhi
Bhubaneswar, June 26 (UNI) Odisha government will conduct a comprehensive review of its disaster preparedness to effectively deal with cyclones and floods, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said. Chairing the State-Level Natural Disaster Committee meeting last night, Majhi emphasized the need for timely measures in early warning systems, relief and rescue operations, drinking water supply, healthcare, and respiratory care. He directed that ODRAF, NDRF, and Fire Services remain on high alert to ensure prompt response and achieve the state's target of zero casualty during disasters. Stating that Odisha is highly prone to natural disasters, especially cyclones and unseasonal rainfall, the Chief Minister noted that the Bay of Bengal is the most cyclone-prone sea in the world, with many cyclones making landfall in or around Odisha. "While natural disasters cannot be prevented, their impact can certainly be minimized," Majhi said. He added that the state aims to irrigate 1.5 million hectares of farmland over the next five years to significantly reduce drought vulnerability. Referring to Cyclone Dana which had affected 14 districts, Majhi said the government had effectively managed the situation and achieved zero casualty. Similarly, unseasonal rains were declared a state disaster, and affected farmers were provided assistance to recover their losses. The Chief Minister also said the state successfully tackled this year's heatwave, with only one death reported in Balangir district, where immediate relief was provided. He highlighted that health issues and snakebites pose major challenges during the monsoon, and instructed officials to maintain adequate stocks of medicines and anti-snake venom at health centres. Majhi reiterated that there would be no compromise on the zero-casualty goal—for both humans and domestic animals. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said two Doppler radars will be installed in Sambalpur and Balasore, and another in Bhubaneswar to improve weather forecasting. A 24-hour emergency control room has been activated at both the state and district levels to receive real-time weather updates and coordinate emergency responses. Pujari also informed that sufficient palm trees have been planted, with support from the Forest Department, to help mitigate the effects of lightning. UNI DP GNK
