Bhubaneswar: As flood situation remained grim in some parts of Odisha in the aftermath of cyclone Arnab, food and relief materials will be air-dropped at 21 locations in the worst-affected Ganjam district.
After reviewing the flood situation at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office on Friday, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters that airdropping of food and relief materials will be undertaken as many areas still remain marooned.
Stating that more than 43,000 people have been affected by the floods in Ganjam district, Pujari said officials have been asked to ensure that relief materials reach every affected person without delay.
Pujari said several districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kandhamala, Kalahandi and Nuapada, had been affected by the cyclone and subsequent rainfall.
Ganjam is the worst-affected district, followed by Gajapati. Kandhamala was also affected by rainfall yesterday. However, according to the rainfall data recorded at 8.30 am on October 30, relatively less rainfall was recorded across the state during the last 24 hours, he said.
As many as 72 villages remain surrounded by floodwater, including nine severely affected villages, prompting the government to intensify rescue and relief operation
To mitigate the plight of marooned people, the state government has made arrangements to air-drop relief materials in 21 locations across the district, particularly in areas that cannot be accessed easily due to flooding.
While air-dropping will be carried out at three places in Hinjilikatu, other areas identified for the operation include Purushottampur, Sheragada, Dharakote, Asika, Bhanjanagar municipality area, Belaguntha and Chikiti.
Arrangements have also been made to distribute cooked food to people in flood-hit areas through boats. This will ensure that people stranded in waterlogged and inaccessible locations receive food and other essential assistance, the Minister said.
This apart, officials have been instructed to undertake immediate repairs of roads damaged by the floods to restore connectivity and facilitate relief and rescue operations.
The government has directed the district administration to intensify relief distribution and ensure that assistance reaches all affected people, including those living in remote areas.
According to the data collected by the government, 22 blocks, 242 gram panchayats, 386 villages and 18 urban local bodies (ULBs), comprising 93 wards, have been affected in Ganjam district.
Of the around 43,000 affected people, 23,323 have been evacuated and shifted to relief centres. As many as 588 pregnant women were also shifted to safer places, of whom 326 have already delivered safely, the minister said.
He said 72 villages remained surrounded by floodwater, with nine villages facing severe inundation. In some locations, floodwater had reached the first floors of houses, leaving residents stranded.
The government has mobilised the Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Fire Services and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) for rescue and relief operations. Coast Guard helicopters were used to evacuate stranded people on Thursday, while the Indian Navy has made arrangements for aerial food drops on Friday.
Director General of Fire Services Sudhanshu Sarangi is also scheduled to visit Brahmapur on Friday. The government has identified 40 locations where trained personnel will be deployed in boats to reach inundated villages and distribute cooked food. Fire Services teams and ODRAF personnel are also engaged in relief operations.
Meanwhile, several roads have been damaged due to landslides, affecting both National Highways and state highways. The minister said he had spoken to the Principal Secretary of the Works Department and asked him to initiate restoration work immediately.
The government is also planning to send heavy machinery from Rayagada and Koraput to Ganjam and Gajapati to expedite road clearance and restoration work, he said.
As many as 352 relief centres were operational in Ganjam district, accommodating around 23,300 people. In neighbouring Gajapati, 340 relief centres were functioning, where 21,782 people had taken shelter, the Minister added.