Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted a dual assessment of Odisha’s post-cyclone relief and restoration efforts today, receiving updates on recovery initiatives during both morning and evening meetings with the Office of the Relief Commissioner. He assured the public that recovery efforts are on track and urged citizens to remain calm and safe, affirming that government teams are on high alert to address needs and expedite restoration.
Electricity Restoration Nears Completion
After reviewing the situation in the evening, CM Mohan Majhi reported that following cyclone “Dana,” over 2.284 million households experienced power disruptions, primarily in the districts of Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Balasore. As of 7:30 p.m. today, power has been restored to more than 92% of affected households. In these districts, fallen trees obstructed roads and disrupted power supply. In Kendrapada, the situation has mostly returned to normal, with power restored to 95% of affected consumers. Approximately 15,000 consumers are still awaiting power connections, and restoration work is ongoing for them. In Bhadrak, waterlogging issues have delayed power restoration. Currently, about 77% of power has been restored, with approximately 70,000 consumers still waiting for connections. Additional teams have been deployed, and efforts are underway to complete the restoration soon, the Chief Minister said.
Commenting on the situation in Balasore, the Chief Minister noted that as of this evening, all remaining road obstructions in the district have been cleared. Power has been restored to approximately 81% of consumers, and restoration efforts continue.
Evacuation and Shelter Updates
The state evacuated around 809,000 residents to cyclone shelters before the storm. With conditions stabilising, most have returned home, and only 110,000 people remain in shelters in areas still affected by waterlogging. Emergency teams, including ODRAF and Fire Services, remain stationed in the shelters to provide ongoing support.
The Chief Minister stated that due to rains in Similipal, the water level in the Budhabalanga River in Balasore district is rising. However, the latest reports indicate that the water level is currently stable and may decrease further as the rains have stopped.
In Balasore district, 20 villages across six gram panchayats have been affected by floods. The administration has relocated 2,500 people from Remuna block and 8,000 people from Balasore Sadar block to safe locations. The administration, ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force), and Fire Services are fully alert in these areas.
Providing an update on the situation in Mayurbhanj, the Chief Minister mentioned that power supply and communication have returned to normal in the district. Due to the rising water level in the Budhabalanga River, the administration, ODRAF, and Fire Services are also on high alert in the area.
To tackle the flood situation, the Chief Minister has instructed the deployment of an additional 11 power boats to Mayurbhanj district and 10 additional power boats to Balasore district.
At the Gobindpur bridge in Balasore, the current water level is at 7.84 metres, which is below the danger level, according to the Chief Minister.
So far, 28 people have been treated for snakebite injuries, including 15 men and 13 women.
Crop Damage and Farmer Assistance
Preliminary estimates indicate crop damage over approximately 200,000 acres. Once floodwaters fully recede, detailed assessments will begin, and the government will provide immediate aid to impacted farmers.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to rapid recovery, stating, “We are fully equipped and alert. Our teams will continue to work relentlessly to restore normalcy and support those affected by the cyclone.”
