CM Majhi Conducts Aerial Survey as Severe Floods Ravage Ganjam and Gajapati

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi undertook an aerial survey to assess the grim ground realities, accompanied by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. From the chopper, the leaders witnessed firsthand the submerged villages, broken roads, and severed communication networks plaguing the region.

The Rushikulya River is flowing nearly two meters above the danger mark at Purushottampur, leading to catastrophic inundation across hundreds of villages in the Ganjam district. Floodwaters have breached homes—rising up to ten feet in certain areas—severely affecting blocks such as Sorada, Asika, Bhanjanagar, Dharakote, and Sanakhemundi. Meanwhile, rising water levels in the Vansadhara and Mahendratanaya rivers have isolated numerous villages in Gajapati. Across both districts, over 1,000 villages are underwater, impacting more than 43,000 people in Ganjam alone, while statewide evacuations have safely moved over 59,000 people to higher ground.

Infrastructure has taken a severe hit, with washed-out roads, submerged bridges, and paralysed railway connectivity. To reach stranded citizens in cut-off pockets, the government has deployed Navy and Coast Guard helicopters, though rescue flights have occasionally faced hurdles due to low-lying clouds.

Prompted by his aerial assessment, Chief Minister Majhi has ordered an immediate intensification of relief and rescue operations. Over 300 rescue teams have been mobilised, distributing cooked meals and essential supplies via boats while airdropping relief packets into inaccessible terrain. Authorities continue to urge riverbank residents to remain vigilant and strictly follow administrative advisories.

While floodwaters have begun to recede slowly in some areas, returning to normalcy will take time. The Chief Minister’s direct intervention has provided much-needed reassurance to affected citizens and injected renewed urgency into ongoing state relief efforts.