Hours after OTV aired the news on the difficulties faced by menstruating girls and women in flood-hit areas for not having sanitary pads, the State government announced distribution of pads in the affected areas free of cost.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena said that several districts, including Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and neighbouring Jharkhand experienced heavy rainfall under the influence of the deep depression system.
Urging people not to try to cross road, bridges or culverts where floodwater is flowing, the SRC said, “Let's not underestimate the power of flowing water.
Addressing a presser here in Bhubaneswar, Jena said three blocks of Balasore received more than 200mm rainfall with Bhograi receiving highest 226mm rainfall. Similarly, 16 blocks of Mayurbhanj district received more than 100mm rainfall followed by 100-50mm rainfall in five blocks of Keonjhar district.
Flood Situation Likely To Improve: Odisha SRC Pradeep Jena
Since Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar are likely to witness rains under the impact of depression, we are reducing water levels in the reservoirs in these districts, said SRC
With the flood situation in the State changing, all erys are on what lies ahead. The Special Relief Commissioner of the State, Pradeep Jena briefed media with the latest update on the flood situation in Odisha.
The SRC informed that embankment patrolling will be intenfised across 10 districts of the state.
The Odisha government on Monday initiated measures to avoid a major flood in Mahanadi river by closing eight gates of Hirakud dam.
Odisha SRC informed that seven ODRAF, three NDRF and 12 Odisha fire services teams have been deployed to Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khordha for response support. He said he has personally discussed with all collectors in lower Mahanadi areas and advised them to keep all field level officials and elected representatives in full alert to deal with eventual flood situation.
Odisha government on Sunday put the Collectors of several districts on alert in view of a medium-scale flood in Mahanadi and directed officials to carry out necessary evacuation and rehabilitation measures if required.
The alert has been issued for the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha (including Bhubaneswar city), Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Kalahandi for the next three hours.
The SRC further said that the cyclonic storm is presently lying off Andhra Pradesh coast and it will recurve after the landfall and may enter the sea by tomorrow morning.
As Odisha braces up for another cyclone developing in the Bay as a low pressure, the State government on Friday put its action plan on place for deployment of response teams in regions most likely to be affected by the probable disaster.
Cyclone Jawad: Odisha SRC On Changing Intensity, Wind Hazard, Rainfall