Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the storm, which was forecast to spare Odisha, veered into Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal, turning the state into a flood basin.
Heavy downpours raised river levels by up to 3 meters, causing a dozen landslides; one in Kandhamal claimed a couple and their nine‑month‑old son, according to Minister Suresh Pujari.
The navy and coast guard dispatched four helicopters, airdropping food to 21 sites in Ganjam, while the National Disaster Response Force ferried cooked meals to stranded residents. Over 23,000 people have been housed in relief camps, but the number still trapped in flooded areas remains high.
Majhi announced a ₹4 lakh ex‑gratia for each family of the dead, and a central team will visit on November 2 to assess damage. The state also approved an extra ₹20 crore for Ganjam's relief operations.
BJD, Congress and Left parties accused the BJP government of failing to act on IMD warnings, while Majhi vowed round‑the‑clock aid. Transport Minister B B Jena confirmed NH‑16 is operational, signalling the start of recovery.