Flood toll up to 23

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 11. As per the latest reports received at the Revenue Control Room here from the Collectors of the flood- affected districts, the casualty figure stood at 23 on Wednesday afternoon.

The authorities claimed that a total of 25,71,769 people had been affected by the flash floods and about 18,000 houses had been damaged.

Giving this information at a press conference today, the Revenue Minister, Mr. Biswabhushan Harichandan, said a total of 2,16,769 hectares of crop area had been affected in as many as 14 districts.

The Minister informed that while water level was rising in Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Baitarani, the danger of flood would continue to haunt the districts of Kendrapara, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri and Jagatsinghpur for some more time as more water was to be released from the Hirakud reservoir.

The water level at Daleighai in Jagatsinghpur district was 57 feet, which is the danger mark at this vulnerable point on Devi river. In Kendrapara district, the Luna river was flowing above the danger level at Danpur, Marshaghai and Basupur.

However, in Jajpur district, the water level of river Brahmani at Jenapur was 20.43 metre, against the danger mark of 23 metre, he said.

Mr. Harichandan informed that although rainfall had subsided, the forecast received from the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre indicated that rain or thundershower was likely to occur at isolated places over Orissa during next 48 hours.

According to a Revenue Department press release, five persons had died in Koraput, while four each had died in Nayagarh and Puri districts; three each had died in Bolangir, Kalahandi and Nawrangpur; and one had perished in Cuttack.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Licensing without tears over computers
Next     : A political conspiracy, says sacked Minister