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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Odisha prepares to face Phailin-triggered floods

Odisha prepares to face Phailin-triggered floods

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published Published on Oct 14, 2013   modified Modified on Oct 14, 2013
-The Indian Express


Death toll mounts to 25; government describes situation in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as "critical"

Gopalpur/Srikakulam/Bhubaneswar: The death toll in calamity-ravaged Odisha on Monday mounted to 25 with four more persons perishing in several areas of the State in the aftermath of cyclone Phailin that triggered heavy rains and floods in some districts.

The government described the situation in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as "critical".

Relief and rescue operations have been launched in the affected areas.

"The situation due to floods caused by cyclone induced rainfall is critical in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts where major rivers like Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha are in spate following sudden inflow of water," Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said.

Though water level in rivers in Bhadrak also rose menacingly following heavy rains, the situation in the district is now under control, he said.

Describing the situation grim especially in Balasore, the official said water level in Budhabalanga has risen to 9.24 meters against the red mark of 8.13 at Gobindpur near NH-5.

Similarly, Subarnarekha was now flowing at 11.7 meters against the danger level of 10.36 meter at Rajghat near Jaleswar, he said, adding 39 panchayats in four blocks of Balasore were under the grip of flood.

Steps have been taken for air-dropping of food packets in flood-hit areas of Balasore where NDRF had been deployed, while water level in rivers in Mayurbhanj has started receding, Mr. P.K. Mohapatra said.

It is apprehended that river Budhabalanga might further rise in Balasore in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas, officials said.

Similarly, the Jalaka was flowing at 6.73 meters against its danger level of 5.50 at Basta. Small rivers like Sona, Gangahar, Kansa and Bausa were also in spate in Balasore district, they said.

The flood water of Buddhabalang had entered many low-lying areas of Balasore Sadar and Remuna blocks near Bhubaneswar while several places under Baliapal and Bhograi were affected by the water from river Subarnarekha.

Flood waters from the Jalaka had entered many villages under Basta block. Roads between Basta and Baliapal and Balasore and Jaleswar were submerged with flood water with over 3 feet water flowing on the roads and the places remained cut off.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and Orissa Disaster Response Action Force had arrived in the areas for carrying out rescue operation, they said.

Flood fury also loomed large over Ganjam, worst hit due to the cyclone ‘Phailin' left the district with a trail of devastation.

Rivers Rushikulya and Badanadi had crossed danger level at Aska, 40 km from Bhubaneswar, on Monday morning though there is no report of any loss but even as engineers of the state water resources department are keeping a watch on the situation.

"The water level of both the rivers is likely to recede by this evening," said R.N. Swain, chief engineer-cum-basin manager of Rushikulya, Bansadhara and Nagabali rivers.

Now the Badanadi was flowing at 36.15 meters at Aska against its danger level 35.42 meters while Rushikulaya's level at Aska stood at 34.75 meters against it danger level 33.85 meters.

The Rushikulaya was now flowing at near danger level at Sorada at 81.33 meters against the danger level of 81.99 meters while at Purushottampur it flows at 17.150 meters against the danger level of 16.83 meters.

Similarly, the Badanadai was flowing at near danger level at Madhabarida at 60.04 meters against the danger level of 60.65 meters while the the Bansadhara at Kasinagar in adjoining Gajapati district is flowing at 54.25 meters against the danger level of 54.60 meters.

The Badanadi had caused two breaches at Gujarari and Ratnagiri near Sorisamul barrage. Almost all the reservoirs in the district are now full with Flood Reserve Level (FRL), he said, adding the Bhanganagar reservoir was now discharge 7.77 cubic meter of while Daha reservoir at Bhanjanagar was discharging 21.85 cubic meter of water.

While 21 persons were killed due to the cyclone, four others died following floods in Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts as heavy rains pounded most parts of the State, officials said.

Giving details of the casualties, Mr. P.K. Mohapatra said deaths were reported from districts like Ganjam (9), Balasore (3), Puri (3), Nayagarh (2), Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur Khurda and Bolangir (one each).

Similarly, floods in Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak claimed two lives each, an official said, adding fresh casualties due to cyclone were reported in Nayagarh, Bolangir and Puri. A boy was missing after being swept away by the flood waters of Salandi in Bhadrak.

Most of the casualties were caused by wall collapse, uprooted trees and in floods, while a large number of people were injured, officials said.

Food assistance package

With normalcy fast returning in cyclone-ravaged areas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is embarking upon an aerial survey in the worst-hit Ganjam district where the Phailin made a landfall at Gopalpur on October 12, 2013.

Relief and restoration operation also picked up in the affected areas of the vast coastal belt in the aftermath of the calamity.

Earlier, Mr. Patnaik said the primary aim was to minimise loss of human lives and they have successfully managed to do so. "Property to the tune of several crores has been damaged...Rehabilitation will now be done."

With over 1 crore people hit by cyclone Phailin in Odisha that left a trail of destruction, the State government on Sunday announced food assistance packages for the families living in affected villages.

Mr. Patnaik announced food assistance packages of 14 days and 7 days for ‘very severely affected' and ‘severely affected' villages respectively.

"The families in severely affected villages in need of support will be provided food assistance for 14 days. They will get 50 kg of rice and Rs. 400 cash each for dal per family," Mr. Patnaik said.

Similarly, Mr. Patnaik said the families living in severely affected villages will get seven days relief. They will get 25 kg of rice and Rs. 200 for dal as food assistance.

The fishermen, who were prevented to go into the sea for fishing because of the cyclone, will be given 10 kg of rice each for loss of livelihood, the Chief Minister said.

People who have lost standing crop and their houses damaged in the calamity will be given assistance after due assessment as per norms, the Chief Minister said.

So far the government has identified 1,02,65,872 people as affected by the devastating cyclone.


The Hindu, 14 October, 2013, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/odisha-prepares-to-face-phailintriggered-floods/article5232818.ece


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