OTV impact: Relief aid reaches 50 flood-hit families in Odisha’s Koida after three days of isolation

Fifty flood-affected families in Gopisahi village under Koida block of Sundargarh district finally received government relief on Sunday evening, following a ground report aired by OTV. Notably, the village had remained completely cut off from the outside world for three consecutive days after the Suna River overflowed, rendering all routes impassable.

According to reports, movement in and out of Gopisahi came to a complete halt due to the swollen Suna River. With no bridge across the river and no alternative access routes, the 50 stranded families were left without food or essential supplies.

Villagers reported surviving without proper meals or drinking water as repeated appeals for help went unanswered until the media intervention.

Administration Responds Following Media Spotlight

Sources reported that following OTV’s coverage of the crisis, Koida Tehsildar Nirmal Biswal, accompanied by a team from the fire department, reached the site by using ropes to cross the river safely. Relief teams carried essential food items, dry rations, and daily-use supplies to the stranded residents.

Officials distributed aid among the affected families and assessed the ground situation. Many villagers, visibly exhausted and distressed, expressed relief and frustration in equal measure for the long-standing neglect of their basic infrastructure needs.

Locals have repeatedly demanded a permanent bridge over the Suna River, which has remained unfulfilled for years. With each flood event, the lack of connectivity turns routine rainfall into a life-threatening emergency.

This year’s situation, worsened by heavy rains in Koida block, once again brought Gopisahi to a standstill, which is reportedly still without any road, rescue, or response until public outrage forced action.

In an interaction with OTV, officials assured that the administration would keep monitoring the village and surrounding areas for further needs. However, residents fear a repeat of the crisis unless long-term infrastructure solutions are implemented.