Odisha Declares Unseasonal Rain as State-Specific Disaster

Bhubaneswar – The Odisha Government has officially declared unseasonal rainfall as a state-specific disaster, providing much-needed relief to farmers affected by erratic weather patterns.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal to categorize unseasonal rain under this classification, enabling farmers to access assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) during periods of such rainfall.

Officials confirmed that up to 10 percent of the annual SDRF allocation can now be utilized to address losses caused by unseasonal rains. This move aims to support farmers in managing crop damage and financial setbacks due to unexpected weather conditions.

In December 2024, unseasonal rains damaged crops across 22,791 hectares, impacting approximately 6.66 lakh farmers in Odisha. In response, the Chief Minister had earlier declared it a special state disaster and allocated Rs. 291 crore in agricultural input subsidies to assist the affected farming community.

With the formal inclusion of unseasonal rainfall as a recognized state disaster, Odisha joins the ranks of eight other state-specific disasters previously acknowledged by the government, which include lightning, heat waves, whirlwinds, tornadoes, heavy rain (unrelated to floods), boat accidents (without floods), drowning, and snakebites.

This addition brings the total number of state-specific disasters in Odisha to nine, aligning with the central government’s recognition of 12 national-level disasters.

The declaration is expected to ensure timely and efficient aid to farmers, bolstering the state’s disaster management efforts and providing a stronger safety net against the challenges posed by climate variability.