Odisha gears up relief & restoration work in flood hit areas

Odisha government today geared up relief and restoration work as flood situation eased in the four districts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
At least 61 free kitchens (25 in Rayagada, 35 in Kalahandi and one in Nabarangpur) have been opened to feed the flood affected people taking shelter at different places, said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi.
The SRC said apart from providing cooked food, the administration has also made provision of medicines, drinking water, baby food and other essentials for the flood-hit people in four districts.
The number of population affected in the calamity has reached to 1.5 lakh. While the number of affected people is about 29,000 in Rayagada, more than 45,200 people are affected in Kalahandi district and 70,500 people are suffering in Nabarangpur district. In Malkangiri, flood water has damaged several roads, Sethi said.

The SRC said about 800 food packets have been air dropped among Dongoria Kondh tribes in Niyamagiri area of Rayagada district.
Medical relief centres have been opened in Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts, while seven such centres have been operating in Kalahandi district, Sethi said.
ORS packets, Halogen tablets, medicines, bleaching power, saline and other medicines have been made available for the affected people, besides ensuring availability of safe drinking water, he said.
The SRC said officials of the public works, energy, rural development and other departments have been working overtime to restore roads, electricity and bridges damaged in the calamity.