CM reviews flood situation

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, reviewing the flood-like situation in the State following heavy rains, on Saturday directed concerned officials to open control rooms round the clock in all districts and keep watch on the water levels of major rivers.

At a meeting held at the State Secretariat, Patnaik also asked officials of Urban Development Department and district administrations to instal high-power pumps to flush out rainwater from the waterlogged areas. Besides, ODRAF and fire brigade teams have been instructed to remain alert to tackle any kind of eventuality.

The Chief Minister also asked officials concerned to keep relief materials ready for people residing in the Cuttack and Bhubaneswar municipal areas.

Leave of all Government officials was cancelled till Monday for their assistance in relief and rescue operations.

“In view of the prevailing flood-like situation in many parts of the State and in view of the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in next 48 hours, it has been decided to cancel the holiday on July 22 (Sunday) and keep all offices open across the State,” said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi in a letter to all district Collectors.

Health Minister Pratap Jena said special teams of doctors would be deployed and health camps would be organised in all affected districts.

In the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, ODRAF and firefighting teams were deployed and cooked food is being supplied to around 16,000 people in the flood-affected areas. Besides, 181 pumps were installed to discharge rainwater, officials informed.

During the review meeting, it was informed that except Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda, all districts in the State witnessed heavy rains since Saturday night with Puri district recording the highest 322-mm rainfall. Chief Secretary AP Padhi was also present at the meeting.

The situation report from Malkangiri revealed that the communications on NH-326 were disrupted at the Saptadhara bridge (Khairput block), Pangam bridge (Mathili block), Poteru, Kangurukonda and some other places mainly due to overtopping of floodwater at the low-lying bridges.

The communications on the roads from Malkangiri to Kalimela and Kalimela to Podia remained disrupted as floodwater was flowing above the bridge at Kangurkonda and Undrukonda, respectively.

Two ODRAF teams deployed in Malkangiri district, where 15 persons were evacuated and sheltered in a school in Mathili block. District Collector Manish Kumar Agarwal was leading a team for rescue and relief operations.

In Kalahandi, five gates of the Mangalpur barrage were opened. A flood situation in river Indravati occurred leading to two breaches in NH-59 (Madanpur-Tumudibundh portion). At least 50 students and  200 passengers, who had been stranded, were taken to a nearby Government buildings for shelter before being sent to their homes later.

The link roads in Kalampur and Jaipatna blocks were submerged. Some families in Kalampur block werde shifted to safer places.