Rayagada flood situation improves as rivers recede; food airdropped to marooned

Kalyansinghpur/Rayagada: Flood situation in Rayagada district improved slightly as river Kalyani and Nagavali started receding since last night.

Thousands of people were still marooned in several villages. The government started airdropping of food packets to the marooned people at Majhiguda, Kumbharguda, Brahmana Sahi, Kumbharsahi and Sai Nagar. The district administration has also started serving cooked food to the people taking shelter in schools.

“The flood situation in Kalahandi and Rayagada district is improving. Free kitchens have been opened for the affected people in these areas. Airdropping of relief materials have been done in Rayagada district,” CM Naveen Patnaik said.

Rayagada district administration has declared closure of schools and colleges for three days in Kalyansinghpur block in view of flood. Similarly, schools and anganwadi centres were shut in Kalahandi district in view of flood.

Health Minister Pratap Jena reviewed health care system in flood affected areas. “Special medical teams have camped in flood-hit Rayagada district with adequate medicines and vaccination. Director of Health Services is directly supervising the work,” Jena said.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sehty convened a meeting with NDRF, ODRAF and fire services officials.

"Despite intermittent rains, there is a slight improvement in the flood situation in Rayagada and Kalahandi district. Choppers have been engaged to airdrop food packets in marooned villages. Around 3000 relief packets have been distributed. Free kitchen centres- two at Kalyansinghpur and 10 at Rayagada- have been opened to serve cooked food to the victims. Three teams of NDRF and CRPF and two of ODRAF have been mobilised to expedite relief and rescue operations. Rayagada Collector and DIG (south) are monitoring the situation," the SRC said.

He further added that local NGOs and local industries have also joined hands in the relief work. Over 65 people stranded at various places were rescued last night, Sethy added.

Rains triggered by a low pressure over Bay of Bengal since Saturday led to flash floods in Nagavali and Kalyani rivers of Rayagada district affecting about 10,000 people in Kalyansinghpur block and neighbouring blocks in the district.

On the other hand Bansadhara river continued to swell as it crossed the danger mark near Kasinagar in Paralakhemundi today. As many as 21 gates of Gotta barrage on the river have been opened to release excess water, the SRC informed.