2.04 lakh still marooned; 63,000 out of home
The flood situation had started improving and it would take at least three days for complete discharge of flood waters from the low-lying areas in Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada, said sources.
As many as 2.04 lakh people in 209 villages were still marooned and an estimated 63,000 people were taking shelter on roads, embankments and safer places, said Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra.
He said all the 63,000 persons were given free cooked food in 55 relief camps and all the vulnerable people were given medical care by pressing into service special mobile medical units. Mohapatra said with complete discharge of flood waters, the assessment of damage by the current floods would begin.
Stating that all the major rivers were now flowing much below the danger level and receding fast, he said that in the Mahanadi delta region, the situation had considerably improved. Besides, the water level in the Hirakud reservoir had reduced to 618 feet against a maximum water level of 630 feet. Mahanadi, Devi, Kushavadra, Brahmani, Baitarani, Vansadhara and Jalaka rivers were flowing below the danger level, he informed.
Mohapatra ruled out any fresh flood as there was no rain during the last two days and the inflow and outflow of water in the Hirakud Dam was unlikely to further aggravate the flood situation. The Special Relief Commissioner’s office sources said that flood affected a population of 35.75 lakh spread over 23 districts. The rain and flood had so far claimed 46 lives and as many as 41,801 houses had been damaged in the flood. As per a preliminary report, 4,182 houses and 3.5 lakh hectares of crop area were damaged.