Delay in supply of relief material irks cyclone-hit villages

Displaced by Cyclone 'Phailin', villagers struggling to cope with the natural calamity are irked over the delay in supply of relief material and complain that children and elders have been going hungry for the last two days.

People in the villages of Gopalpur area say they are still to receive food items as their eatables and cooking material have been swept away or submerged in the cyclonic rains.

"The administration had promised during evacuation that relief centres will have enough food and water. But there is none here and our children and elders are hungry for the last two days," Babu Patra, a 42-year-old resident of Masoodpur village, said.

It is a similar story in a number of other villages and relief centres that bore the brunt of the October 12 cyclonic rains.

People in Rathasai village say the supply of jaggery, rice and pulses has finished and they are still waiting for the fresh supplies.

While the district administration admits that far-flung coastal villages are still to receive relief supply, the officials have put in all efforts to ensure early distribution of food items and mobilised all resources.

Sub Collector of Ganjam Ashish Thakare, however, says that while initial stocks are been kept in the relief centres more is being rushed.

"Our teams are on grounds and it would be unfair to say that essential material is not reaching. By today, virtually every affected village would be covered," he said.

The administration has prepared five kg packets of jaggery and flattened rice as dry ration while water and animal fodder is being dispatched through trucks, small carry vehicles and boats.