Fresh spell of rain aggravates flood victims’ woes

After a brief lull, torrential rain has again started in the state, worsening the plight of people who have been reeling from the flood caused by the Mahanadi river after torrential rain lashed the State.

Flood-affected people in Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur are spending sleepless nights for last five days in the absence of adequate food and drinking water.

According to sources, flood has struck havoc and is having widespread impact in the state. As many as 10 districts are deeply impacted by flood. While the government is responding, the situation is quite grim. Still, there are certain glaring issues that need immediate attention.

Take the case of flood victims of Kujang. After floodwater entered the houses of people, they have been residing under polythene sheets at canal side.  They, however, found it hard to live under the polythene sheets after low-pressure induced downpour wreaked havoc. Besides, they were seen sharing the polyphone sheets with their pets and domestic animals. 

Flood victims of Saradhapur village under Brajamohanpur block in Khurda district have taken shelter on the roof after floodwater entered their houses.  However, it is now difficult for them to take shelter on roof due to continuous rain from Thursday. Also, with no space left for cooking, they were seen cooking on bed.

Not only people of Khurda and Jagatsinghpur, flood victims of Puri, Cuttack and Kendrapara are suffering a lot.  Nonstop rain since Thursday has aggravated their situation.  The polythene sheets they had covered their roofless houses with were blown away exposing the people to the rain again.

With India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy rainfall in different parts of Odisha under the influence of the deep depression, flood victims are having a tough time to battle flood and survive.

A flood victim from Kujang said, “Yesterday we took shelter under a polythene sheet on the roof. As wind speed increased, our polythene sheet under which we had taken shelter was about to be blown away. We spent sleepless night just not to let it be blown away by wind.”

Talking about his plight, an octogenarian said, “I had come to my flooded house to get some food stuff for our survival.  I had return to shelter centre empty handed after finding a snake inside the house. We are feeling helpless in the absence of government assistance.”

Resenting administrative apathy, another victim said, “We have been spending days under polythene sheets for last few days. And lack of food and water has added our woes.”