Odisha flood toll rises to 23

The death toll in the Odisha flash floods caused by rain rose to 23 Tuesday, an official said.

While 15 deaths were reported in July, more occurred this month, a senior official at the state flood control room told IANS.

"Most of the people died due to drowning or house collapse. In Aug, four people died in Mayurbhanj district while Boudh, Sambalpur, Kandhamal and Koraput districts reported one death each," he said.

Rain continued in many parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday disrupting road and rail traffic, triggering flash floods in several districts and leaving thousands of people stranded.

State's special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said as many as 17,000 people have taken shelter at relief camps set up by the administration in different places, after rain water flooded homes and streets.

"Around 7,000 people have taken shelter in the relief camps at the district headquarters town Sambalpur, he said."

"The situation remained grim in the coastal districts of Jajpur and Bhadrak," he added.