As floodwaters from the Subarnarekha River begin to recede in Odisha’s Balasore district, the true extent of the devastation is becoming clear — especially for farmers in Aaruhabruti village under Bhograi block, who are now staring at a season of heavy losses.
After being submerged for five straight days, vast tracts of paddy, jute, and vegetable crops have been completely destroyed. Fields once thriving with flowering and fruit-bearing plants are now covered in a thick layer of silt and decaying vegetation, leaving little hope for immediate revival.
Ground Reality:
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Paddy nurseries, prepared for the next crop cycle, have been washed away.
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Jute cultivation, a key source of income in the region, has been severely impacted, with most crops uprooted due to prolonged waterlogging.
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Seasonal vegetables and horticulture crops have rotted, compounding the misery of already debt-ridden farmers.
With input costs rising and no standing crops left to salvage, the local farming community is in distress. Farmers are now demanding timely compensation, urging the district administration to conduct a thorough assessment of the crop damage and provide financial relief to help them recover.
Although preliminary surveys have been initiated by local officials, a full evaluation is still pending. Farmers fear delays in aid will make recovery harder, especially with the next sowing season approaching.
This natural disaster comes as yet another blow to agrarian communities in coastal Odisha, who are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events triggered by climate change. For now, what remains in Balasore’s flood-hit villages is not water, but uncertainty.
