More than 80 lakhs affected in Orissa floods

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 22. Although the danger of floods in Mahanadi and its branch rivers has subsided now, the water level in two other rivers in Orissa - the Brahmani and the Baitarani - was rising on Sunday making the situation pathetic in the flood-hit districts of Jajpur and Kendrapara.

The water level at the Rengali reservoir on Brahmani was at 122.75 metres, against the storage capacity of 123.50 metres and the water level in the river downstream was increasing as 7,939.89 cumecs of water was being released from the reservoir.

The inflow had increased to 9,762.25 cumecs forcing the authorities to open more number of gates keeping in view the dam's safety.

The water level of Baitarani at Akhuapada gauge station was at 38.45 metres against the danger mark of 38.36 metre.

The water level of the Brahmani at Jenapur was 22.36 metres against the red mark of 23 metres this afternoon.

The level in both the rivers and their branch rivers such as the Kharasrota and the Kani were expected to further rise tonight causing inundation of fresh areas.

The death toll in the State has rose to 59. This includes the death of a rescue worker who died in the Delang Block of Puri district when a boat carrying a medical team to the affected villages capsized on Sunday.

Another person, who was in the boat, was missing.

The toll was likely to increase as official reports were still awaited from several areas.

Besides, reports about occurrence of diarrhoea cases was increasing with more cases being reported from the coastal belt.

The number of diarrhoea cases reported had increased to 1,925 by Sunday.

There has not been much improvement in the situation in the coastal districts of Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Jajpur.

Relief had still not reached many places as there were shortage of boats and it was not possible to cover all hamlets in the region by airdropping of food packets.

The State Government admitted on Sunday that while Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts required 40 more boats each, 30 boats were further required for Cuttack district.

The authorities have also not been able to provide polythene sheets or tents to the people who have taken shelter on the river embankments and on the roads.

As regards the situation in the interior districts, although the flood waters has receded to a great extent in many areas, 24 villages in Raimal Block of Deogarh district remained inaccessible till Sunday afternoon, according to the State Government's Revenue Department.

Meanwhile, the flood situation report released by the Revenue Department indicated that the total number of people affected by the floods had crossed 80 lakhs.

Many voluntary agencies have joined hands with the Government in the relief and rescue operations.

On its part, CARE-India has been providing packets of `Kichidi' (rice and dal cooked with oil and sugar) and other food items for airdropping purposes.

They have started community kitchens in cooperation with their partner organisations.

Airdropping of food packets by Air Force helicopters have been intensified.

However, the airdropping has caused injury to four persons in Delang and Astarang Blocks of Puri district, while damaging 10 houses and two electric poles.

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