Bramhapur Municipal Corporation Steps Up Rain Preparedness; 225 People Evacuated to Safety
Manoj Kanta Dash, Odisha Barta
Bramhapur, October 27, 2026:With rainfall intensifying across the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) area on Tuesday evening after intermittent showers throughout the day, the civic administration stepped up its emergency preparedness, evacuating 225 people from vulnerable areas, clearing drains and removing encroachments obstructing rainwater drainage.
At a virtual review meeting held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena directed the Municipal Commissioner to ensure full preparedness to tackle possible water logging and provide all essential facilities at temporary shelters.
He also instructed officials to seek police assistance wherever necessary during evacuation and to promptly remove encroachments obstructing the flow of rainwater.
225 People Shifted to Five Temporary Shelters
By Tuesday evening, the Corporation had evacuated 225 people, including 91 men, 90 women and 44 children, from kutcha houses and low-lying areas as a precautionary measure.
The evacuation was carried out through the efforts of Assistant Commissioners and community organisers, with priority given to public safety.
The evacuees were accommodated at five temporary shelters: 35 people at Haridakhandi Kalyan Mandap, 45 at Gramdevati Sahi Nodal Upper Primary School, 70 at Biju Patnaik Kalyan Mandap, 50 at Khodasingi Kalyan Mandap and 25 at Ambapua Primary School. Food and other essential arrangements were made for those taking shelter.
Alternative Drainage Channel at Flood-Prone Area
To address recurring waterlogging in the Laxmi Nrusingha Sahi area, the Corporation undertook excavation work for an alternative drainage channel near the end of the locality to facilitate the discharge of rainwater.
In Ward No. 23, a municipal library at Golapalli Sahi, Sebaka Nagar, was freed from encroachment.
The Corporation has decided to use the building as a temporary refuge for local residents if heavy rainfall creates an emergency. Encroachments were also removed in the Brahmapalli area to ensure the unobstructed flow of rainwater.
Drain Cleaning Continues for Third Consecutive Day
The Corporation continued its drain-cleaning drive for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, covering several localities across the city.
The areas included Annapurna Nagar, Maluani Mandir Road, Ainabandha Sahi, Tala Mentu Chhak, Dharma Nagar main drain, Senior Citizens’ Park, Girija Restaurant Road, Trinath Mandir Road, Khalasi Sahi Chhak, Panabika Sahi, the drain near Hanuman statue, Kamp Sahi, Park Sahi, the municipal office area, Brahmapalli, Kalinga Nagar, Housing Board Colony near Gopalpur Junction, Station Road, the drain in front of Kameswari Hotel, Markandeshwar Temple, Uma Nagar, Gajapati Nagar, the stretch from Subbarao Chhak to Utkal Ashram, Krishna Nagar and Nigam Nagar.
Tree-cutting and clearance operations were also underway at various locations with the assistance of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Injured Cattle Rescued; Control Room Fully Operational
In a separate operation, the Corporation rescued an injured bull from Saguna Sahi and two injured cows, one each from Lanjipalli and Lochapada. The animals were sent to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Corporation’s 24-hour control room remained fully operational. Municipal Commissioner A. Sasy Reddy personally visited the control room on Tuesday to review its functioning and emergency response arrangements.
The Commissioner appealed to residents to report local problems directly to the control room at 7608880480 and cooperate with the Corporation in managing the situation arising from the continuing rainfall.
