HM to visit Orissa to take stock of flood situation

Chidambaram would arrive in Bhubaneshwar in the afternoon and hold discussion with chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the flood situation, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro said.

The state government would apprise the Union minister about the damage caused by the calamity, he said.

Chidambaram was likely to leave for New Delhi after holding discussions with the chief minister. "Till now, there is no programme of the Union minister to visit any flood-affected area," a home department official said.

Chidambaram will be the second Union minister to visit the state during the current floods.

Earlier Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat visited Puri district, which was severely affected due to flood in Mahanadi river system.

Meanwhile, a four-member sub-team of inter-ministerial group arrived here to assess the flood damage in the state. The team was taken to worst-hit Jajpur district, special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra said.