Odisha: Flood situation 'slightly improves', aircraft engaged

The Odisha government today pressed into service a Coast Guard aircraft to assess the situation in two villages of Niyamgiri hills which were cut off due to flash flood caused by incessant rains, even as the condition slightly improved in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.
A Dornier aircraft of the Coast Guard is engaged in Niyamgiri hills area where some Dongria Kondh tribals are marooned due to floods in Kalyani river, special relief commissioner B P Sethi said.
"The aircraft is being used to drop food materials in the area. So far, 4.2 quintals of dry food has been dropped in the affected area of Niyamgiri hills," the SRC said.

He said at least 4,000 Dongria Kondh indigenous people residing in the villages of Niyamgiri Hills were marooned as a bridge over river Kalyani was washed away due to the floods.
Around 2,000 people of other communities also live on the other side of the river and all of them are inaccessible, Sethi added.
Meanwhile, the flood situation "slightly improved" in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts with the water level receding "to a large extent", the SRC said.

There was no heavy rainfall in the two districts since last night following which the administration has geared up relief operation with help of NGOs, he said.

Sethi said free kitchens have been opened at many places to provide cooked food to the people.
About the situation in Rayagada, the SRC said as many as 28,000 people living in 70 villages of Rayagada and Kalyansinghpur blocks have been affected in the floods, which also left five people injured in incidents of wall collapse.
Three villages -- Jilinda, Budaguda and Majhiguda -- remained marooned even two days after the flood hit Rayagada district, Sethi said.
Five bridges, including two railway bridges, have been washed away in flood water and four roads have been damaged. The teams of ODRAF, fire service and CRPF are engaged in rescue and relief operation.

Also, 28,517 people in 132 villages under seven blocks have been affected in Kalahandi district where two persons died. While one of them died after drowning, landslide claimed another's life.
Three persons have also been injured in wall collapse, Sethi said.
Some areas in Nabarangpur district are flooded due to flood in small rivers and nullhas, he said
Water level in all rivers, including Bansadhara, is flowing below the danger level, the SRC said.