27 deaths in Orissa flood, relief operations intensified

BHUBANESWAR: With seven more deaths, the toll in the current spell of Orissa flood rose to 27, as the state government today intensified relief operation in over 1,100 marooned villages.

Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said the toll which stood at 20 last night, mounted to 27 after Revenue and Disaster Management minister S N Patro reviewed the situation at a meeting.

A maximum of seven casualties were reported in Jajpur district followed by six in Bhadrak district, the SRC said.

Over 22 lakh people were affected in the second spell of flood in Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalang and their tributaries, he said.

The toll in the first spell of flood this year in the Mahanadi river system was 41, Mohapatra said.

Meanwhile, with the flood water receding fast in swollen Brahmani and other rivers, the Orissa government today intensified relief operation in the marooned areas.

The people in the marooned villages will be given cooked food till water completely recedes from their villages, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

The Orissa government also withdrew two choppers from air-dropping food items as most of the 588 marooned villages of Jajpur were accessible by boats, the SRC said.

Two Navy choppers were also sent back, he said. The chief minister visited the flood affected areas of Sambalpur and Subarnapur today while the central team comprising four members from Road Transport and Highways, Agriculture, Health and Water Resources ministries toured devastated areas in western Orissa.