Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 2: The southwest monsoon continued to wreak havoc across Assam, Kerala and Odisha on Saturday, claiming more lives, displacing thousands and affecting lakhs of people as flood and rain-related emergencies persisted in several regions.
In Assam, the flood-related death toll rose to 82, while nearly 1.93 lakh people remain affected despite water levels receding in some areas, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Relief and rehabilitation operations are continuing in the worst-hit districts.
Kerala reported six rain-related deaths, with six others still missing, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Search and rescue operations are underway with the assistance of multiple agencies, elected representatives and local residents.
The state has opened 65 relief camps sheltering 1,465 people. Officials said 17 houses have been completely destroyed, while 127 others have suffered partial damage due to heavy rainfall.
Although rainfall has eased in some areas, rescue operations continue. Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode recorded 340 mm of rainfall over 35 hours, while Meppadi in Wayanad received 177 mm during the same period.
Meanwhile, Odisha remains on high alert as floods affected more than 8.34 lakh people across 20 districts. Floodwaters from the swollen Mahanadi and the overflowing Salandi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Jalaka and Budhabalang rivers have inundated low-lying areas, damaged infrastructure and submerged large tracts of agricultural land.
More than 1,300 houses have been damaged, with Bhadrak emerging as the worst-affected district, followed by Jajpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.
Authorities have placed 10 districts downstream of the Mahanadi under high alert as the Hirakud Dam continues releasing excess water through 22 gates. The districts include Angul, Boudh, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada, with special focus on the vulnerable Mahanadi delta region.
Officials said the water level at the Hirakud reservoir stood at 625.47 feet against its full reservoir level of 630 feet. With inflows touching around 4.15 lakh cusecs, the reservoir level is expected to rise further, although discharge at the Mundali barrage near Cuttack has declined.
Meanwhile, the Centre approved the advance release of Rs 2,117.85 crore as its share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to assist seven flood-affected states during the ongoing monsoon season.
According to an official statement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved the advance release of the second instalment of the Central SDRF share to Himachal Pradesh and Odisha to ensure the timely availability of funds for relief and rehabilitation operations.