**Bhubaneswar: ** While flood situation in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts is improving, free kitchens and airdropping of relief materials have been started for affected people in the marooned areas.
Even free kitchens have been opened in water-logged Cuttack city where 260 pump sets were pressed into action for de-watering.
Notably, torrential rains in the upper catchment areas of Nagavali and the Kalyani rivers in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts marooned several villages on Sunday. Alarming rise in the water levels there has caused extensive damage to bridges and road and railway infrastructure.
Similarly, Cuttack city, the erstwhile capital city of Odisha, also experienced the water-logging harrowing experience since Sunday night inundating several areas of the millennium city even on Monday.
Briefing media at the State Secretariat on Monday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed, “The flood situation in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts is improving. Free kitchens have been opened for affected people in those areas as well as in Cuttack city. Airdropping of relief materials has been done in Rayagada district. For de-watering in Cuttack city 260 pump sets have been used.”
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty informed media, “Flood situation in Rayagada district is under control. On Sunday, affected people of the 12 villages in Kalyansinghpur and Rayagada blocks were rescued and evacuated on a war-footing. From today (Monday) morning free kitchens have been opened in 12 places, 2 in Kalyansinghpur block while 10 free kitchens in Rayagada block. Relief operation has already started. Now there is erratic rainfall. Water level is gradually receding. Hence, there is no apprehensive danger.”
“In Kalahandi district, 5 villages under Junagarh block have been partly affected due to flood water. However, all Collectors in the State have been put on high alert to deal with the exigencies when warranted. Air dropping has started today morning. One more helicopter will reach from Raipur. That too be pressed into rescue and relief operations,” he further informed.
On health related preparedness, Health Minister Pratap Jena said, “During flood, cases of snakebite are generally reported. Also those injured need immediate medical attention. Attention also is needed for the health condition of the villagers evacuated to the relief camps. Steps have been taken to see how those relief camps can simultaneously be turned into health camps. Discussion was held for sufficient medicine supply and tablets for safe drinking water to be made available there. We held a holistic discussion today here.”
“We’ll more focus on the diseases post flood situation. Health nodal officers have been deployed in all blocks. Senior officers have also been given responsibilities in the district headquarters level for the purpose. Review will be made on daily basis here,” he informed.
He further informed, “In Rayagada district, our special team led by Director, Health Services has already begun work there. Also a special team has already reached Kalahandi district. All steps have been taken for adequate medicine supply, doctors and ambulance.”
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi told OMMCOM NEWS, “Situation is inching towards normalcy. All marooned people have been rescued and evacuated. The villagers of Gosainkantuagaon in Rayagada district were unwilling to leave the village. However, our team has rescued 70 villagers. We had made two sorties by a helicopter available and dropped about 1000 food packets and other relief materials.”
“Notwithstanding that, our operation by road is on a war-footing. Yesterday (Sunday), 4000 food packets were made available to the marooned areas by road. Today too 4000 food packets have been distributed there. Besides, free kitchens have been opened and about 4000 people are getting the benefit in Rayagada district. Similarly in Kalahandi district free kitchen service is on,” the SRC informed.
On the rainfall data of Sunday, he further informed, “It had been a bit heavier. While in Narla it has been recorded 395.2 mm rainfall, in Lanjigarh 254 mm and Thuamul Rampur recorded 207 mm. As that part of Kalahandi district is hilly terrain, despite reports of landslides, flood situation is not alarming there. But communication to some places there has been disrupted.”
“A high level team comprising Director, Health Services, Chief Engineer, Rural Works, senior officer from Drinking Water Department have been touring there. Several teams have been pressed into relief operations,” the SRC concluded.