More than 70,000 people have been evacuated to 395 relief camps in Odisha as floods triggered by heavy rain inundated 13 districts, officials said. Balasore is the worst hit, where the Subarnarekha river is flowing at 11.07 metres, well above its danger mark of 10.36 metres.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in a post on September 29 that conditions are improving, with 13,221 people currently in 49 relief camps across the affected areas. He said 43 rescue teams are deployed and the situation is being monitored round the clock. Cooked food, drinking water and medical support are being provided at the camps.

The floods followed intense rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers, forcing authorities to open dam gates and evacuate low-lying villages as a precaution.

Officials said the water level in the Subarnarekha has begun to recede slowly, but teams remain on alert. District administrations have been directed to assess damage to houses, roads and standing crops once the water fully withdraws. The state government has said compensation for the affected families will be released quickly under disaster relief norms.