Odisha floods: 17 dead so far, over 10,000 houses damaged

BHUBANESWAR: Flood situation worsened in Odisha on Sunday as several districts were inundated by floodwater from Mahanadi River System.
The flood claimed one more life on Sunday taking the death toll to 17 while the number of people affected by the calamity is more than 14.32 lakh in 20 districts, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) informed.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will do an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts on Monday.
As many as 10,382 houses were fully or partially damaged in 3,256 villages under 896 panchayats in 112 blocks while 2,65,723 people were affected due to the calamity in 340 villages on Sunday, official sources said.
Besides, erosion of river banks was reported at several places leaving 107 roads in 11 districts damaged. Crops in 1,68,905 hectare agriculture land have been washed away in the flood.
“The flood is at its peak with over 10 lakh cusec water came in Mahanadi at Mundali on Sunday. It will would inundate Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda and Jajpur districts by Monday. The inflow to Hirakud reservoir has reduced, so water levels will not rise further, but the current water levels will take two more days to recede,” said SRC P K Jena.

Situation report issued by office of special relief commissioner
The water level at the reservoir stood at 627.97 feet against its full capacity of 630 feet. Around 7.65 lakh cusec water per second is being released from the reservoir through 43 sluice gates while 6.88 lakh cusec water came in the reservoir on Sunday.
Following the release of flood waters in Mahanadi river, the river and several of its tributaries like Devi, Daya, Paika, Rajua, Luna, Chitrotpala are flowing above the danger mark.
The worst affected districts are Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur and Kendapada. A breach in Banki area inundated at least a dozen villages in Banki sub-division of Cuttack district. Another breach at marooned several villages in the block. Situation is critical in Athagada, Tigiria, Kanasa, Pipili, Marsaghai, Gardapur, Derabis, Kujanga areas. As many as 21 breaches were reported in Brahmani river in Jajpur district alone, submerging large areas in Bari block. People were seen taking shelter at roof of pucca houses while many did not agree to come to safe places leaving their domestic animals in the flood, sources said.
As many as 14 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 17 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and 22 teams of fire brigade have been continuously working to rescue the affected people and provide relief services, including distribution of cooked and dry food in the marooned villages.
The flood situation in other major rivers is improving as their water levels are receding gradually.
“Rivers like Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga are flowing below the danger level and the situation is under control,” said water resources secretary Anu Garg.
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