Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed district collectors of flood-affected areas to submit detailed damage assessment reports within three days to facilitate compensation for affected families.

Government to release compensation after damage assessment

Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Arabinda Padhee said the reports should include details of crop losses, damaged houses and other destruction caused by the floods. He said compensation will be released after the government receives and verifies the damage assessment reports.

"District collectors have been asked to submit reports on the extent of crop damage, houses affected and other losses within three days. Compensation will be provided based on these reports," Padhee said.

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According to the latest flood status report issued on July 30, floods have affected five districts—Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar.

The floods have impacted 50 blocks, 356 gram panchayats, 1,084 villages, 11 urban local bodies (ULBs) and 169 wards across the state.

Official figures show that 5,87,822 people have been affected by the floods, while 1,76,073 people have been evacuated to safer locations.

The report said 21 villages remain marooned, including 17 in Balasore and four in Kendujhar.

Floodwaters have damaged 16,187 hectares of agricultural land, with Jajpur accounting for the highest crop loss at 11,497 hectares, followed by Mayurbhanj (3,754 hectares) and Kendujhar (936 hectares).

The floods have also damaged 1,020 houses, including 654 in Balasore, 278 in Mayurbhanj and 88 in Kendujhar.

To provide relief to affected residents, the state government has opened 464 relief camps, including 165 in Balasore, 234 in Bhadrak, 47 in Jajpur, 14 in Mayurbhanj and four in Kendujhar.

The report stated that 607 polythene sheets have been distributed among affected families. As part of the rescue and relief operations, six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 24 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 46 Fire Services teams have been deployed across the flood-hit districts.

Despite the widespread flooding, officials reported no human casualties so far. However, 1,310 livestock deaths have been recorded.

The state government said district administrations have been instructed to continue rescue, relief and restoration efforts while ensuring timely assessment of losses so that compensation can be disbursed to eligible beneficiaries without delay.