Flood-Hit People Pay A Hefty Amount To Get Across To Mainland On Boats In Odisha’s Banki

Cuttack: Surrounded by floodwater, the villagers of Similpur panchayat in the district have to pay a heavy price to go to market places on high land to get daily necessities.

Sukhuakhala village under the panchayat of Banki block was inundated as the floodwater from river Mahanadi entered the area. The village remains cut off from the mainland due to the flood.

Banki administration deployed powerboats along with NDRF and ODRAF boats in the flood-hit areas for rescue and relief operations. But the villagers have to dole out Rs 500 per person to private boat owners to ferry them across the flooded roads and crop fields to reach the mainland.

“The boats are not meant to be used for public transport. Those will be used only in case of medical emergency,” a villager said quoting the government boat operator.