Flood situation improving: CM

Bhubaneswar: There has been improvement in the flood situation in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while speaking to media here on Monday.
The Chief Minister said free kitchens have been opened for the flood-hit in those areas as well as Cuttack and food packets airdropped in Rayagada.
The government had airdropped food packets in Majhiguda, Kumbharguda, Brahmana Sahi, Kumbharsahi and Sai Nagar. Thousands of people are still marooned in several villages of the district.
According to official sources, water level in Kalyani and Nagavali rivers started receding last night.
“Despite intermittent rains, there has been a slight improvement in the flood situation in these two districts. Around 3000 relief packets have been distributed. Two free kitchens at Kalyansinghpur and 10 at Rayagada are serving cooked food to the affected. Three teams of NDRF and CRPF and two of ODRAF have been mobilised to expedite relief and rescue operations. Rayagada collector and DIG (south) are monitoring the situation,” said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethy.
Local NGOs and industries are also helping in the relief work, he said, adding, 65 people stranded at various places were rescued last night.
Meanwhile, Rayagada administration declared closure of schools and colleges for three days in Kalyansinghpur block in view of the flood. Similarly, schools and anganwadi centres were shut in Kalahandi district.