Flood woes overflow, still no succour in sight

BALASORE:  With the Kala and Sunei dams in Mayurbhanj district releasing water, flood situation in Balasore district continued to be grim on Tuesday. Official sources said 99,245 people in 132 villages in Remuna and Sadar blocks of the district have been affected by floods in the Budhabalanga. As there is no let up from incessant rains and Meteorological officials predicting heavy downpour following another depression, the flood victims and district officials fear water level may further rise in the Budhabalanga, the Subarnarekha and the Jalaka.While water level in the Jalaka was above danger mark, in other rivers the level was close to the warning mark. However, the positive news is that all the flood waters are in a receding trend.Meanwhile, the Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro’s orders to distribute dry food in the flood-hit areas are yet to be adhered to by the district officials. Bone-tired and hungry, many flood-affected villagers of Olanda Saragaon alleged that any government official is yet to visit them.“We are surviving on whatever dry food we have stocked. With my house damaged we have taken shelter in a neighbour’s house on a highland,” said Tulasi Singh, a victim.  Villages of Oupal, Tentulimundi, Akinia, Putagaon, Sindhia and Chaka Sindhia were not accessible as the Budhabalanga breached several roads. People remain confined to the cut-off areas awaiting succour for the fourth day.Admitting that no official has visited the affected area, Sadar Tehsildar Pinaki Patnaik said, “I tried to visit Olanda but failed as the Sapua slope was flooded and the water current heavy. The sarpanch has been asked to provide the flood victims with cooked food. On Tuesday we started free kitchens in two panchayats.”