Odisha Government has been cancelled all officers’ and employees’ leave amid worsening flood conditions

Bhubaneswar:16/8/26:With three days of continuous heavy rainfall forecast across Odisha, the state government has gone into full alert mode. Chief Secretary Anu Garg announced that all government officers’ and employees’ leave has been cancelled amid worsening flood conditions.

District administrations have been instructed to stay prepared and ensure uninterrupted rescue and relief operations. Officials currently on leave must report back to duty immediately, while no one may leave headquarters without prior permission.

According to official data, 49 blocks, 331 panchayats, and 947 villages have been affected, along with five urban areas, impacting nearly 5.15 lakh people. Floodwaters from the Baitarani, Brahmani, Salandi, Jalaka, and Budhabalanga rivers have inundated large parts of Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, and Kendrapada districts.

Three senior officers will be sent to Bhadrak, Baleshwar, and Jajpur to coordinate field operations, while engineers from the Water Resources Department have been assigned to monitor river levels, embankments, and flood‑control structures.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha due to a new low‑pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The Chief Secretary urged all departments to maintain vigilance and ensure relief centres, evacuation plans, and essential supplies are ready.

District administrations have already begun implementing similar measures, keeping the state’s disaster‑response machinery on high alert.