Government assures all help to flood-hit Odisha, rushes 2 helicopters

NEW DELHI: Government today assured all possible help to Odisha to tackle floods and said two helicopters have been rushed to the state for relief and rescue measures.

"It is a serious situation in Odisha...Home Minister Rajnath Singh has talked to Chief Minister of Odisha. Two helicopters have been rushed there. Whatever is required there will be done," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkiah Naidu said in Rajya Sabha after BJD members raised the issue.

Naidu said government is serious on the issue. He was replying after a BJD member Bhupinder Singh raised the issue during the Zero Hour saying that a large number of people were displaced and massive destruction was caused to crops after floods in Mahanadi river.

He demanded immediate rescue and relief measures in Odisha stressing that two lakh hectares of paddy crop was affected due to it.

Earlier he had come to the aisle with the demand to which Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said Singh had already raised the issue yesterday and "you cannot take Parliament for a ride." Kurien said government has taken note of it.