More naval forces join relief, Orissa flood situation grim

As gushing water from breaches in Orissa's Mahanadi delta engulfed fresh areas, more naval and para-military men today joined relief work for the marooned people in the flood which affected 38 lakh people and claimed at least 31 lives.     

Though the water level in Mahanadi and other rivers subsided considerably, surging waters from about 80 breaches in embankments in the Mahanadi system continued to submerge fresh areas, worsening the plight of the people in the flood ravaged villages, official sources said.    

 Two naval teams from I N S Chilika had been pressed into service for rescue and relief yesterday, while more personnel were being sent to the flood affected areas to intensify the operation, they said.     

Jawans of Central Industrial Security Force have also joined the relief operation which had remained tardy in the absence of adequate manpower and boats at the disposal of the state government, sources said.     

Equipped with high-speed rubber boats, the naval teams could operate efficiently against strong current and take relief materials to inaccessible pockets of the worst affected Kendrapara and Cuttack districts.     

A large number of tourists were stranded in the holy town of Puri in the wake of cancellation of train services to the sea side town due to submergence of tracks near Pipili. Road links with Puri and the tourist spot of Konark, famous for its historic Sun temple, had snapped earlier.     

Water level in Mahanadi at Naraj near Cuttack fell to 26.13 metres, below the danger mark of 26.41 metres, but more areas in the river's deltaic plains continued to be flooded due to a large number of breaches in embankments. The death toll in the floods stood at 31.