Balasore, Aug 26 (Odisha.in) The police officials of the flood affected areas of the coastal Balasore district are doing a different thing for a social cause. Besides tackling the crimes, they are now busy in helping the block officials during relief distribution and restoration work.
In fact they are helping the officials of Public Works Department (PWD) and Rural Works Division (RWD) out during restoration process of damaged roads and breaches.
Sources said, a large section of police personnel are also patrolling on some important road ways and river embankments to keep a strict vigil, because there is every possibility of people cutting the road for easy passage of flood waters from their agricultural field.
Police Circle Inspector of Jaleswar S R Mohapatra told: “From the beginning we have been helping the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) in rescue and relief operation.
As there were disturbances during distribution of relief materials last year, we sent an escort team with each relief vehicles and in the presence of our officials relief was distributed this time.”
The cops also have done a remarkable work during relief distribution. They have come forward for the rescue and relief operations in the remote areas, this year. They arranged boats and whoever wanted a lift was picked up and dropped at makeshift shelters in the local schools or cyclone shelters.
“Even some cops are also engaged for distribution. Besides, we are keeping a watch at some vulnerable points on NH-60 which was cut by the irate villagers last time for the discharge of floodwaters.
At three places our constables and home guards also were engaged in road restoration work through out the night,” Mohapatra added.
Some cops also had to spend sleepless night with marooned villagers for their protection.
“There was no option. The areas were inaccessible, as the roads were under water. We had to move through the boats only.
Our team accompanied with block officials reached at the marooned villagers and provided relief materials to operationsthem,” said Balaram Nayak, O-C of Jaleswar, who spent three nights at worst hit Baigan Badia, Gadasahi-Baliapal villages.
Adds another police official from Bhogarai police station: “Ours is a low land. Though the rain stopped and floodwaters receded, but water from adjacent Midnapur district of West Bengal poured in causing a heavy damage.”
He said, “All his subordinate staffs were pressed into service. All leave has been cancelled. More than 20 resistance groups in the block have joined the rescue-and-relief mission.”
Hundreds of flood-hit villagers of the blocks of Jaleswar, Baliapal, Bhogarai and Basta blocks also have expressed their satisfaction over the hospitality shown by their local police.
“Vehicular services to our areas were smooth after the quick restoration work. As the residents of low lying areas we must give thank to the police because of whom the people residing up-lands couldn’t cut the roads and we saved. They also have reached at us with relief materials,” said Sarat Pradhan, a villager of Basta.
This year, the people of the four northern blocks of the district have faced the burnt of the flash floods four times within one-and-a-half-month. With all the agricultural fields have been washed away, the poor farmers and daily-wage labourers are heading towards a forlorn future.
In third week of August, the torrential rains have caused extensive damage to the northern districts of Orissa with killing 12 persons and affecting 13,00,000 people in three districts, Balasore being the worst hit where over 9,00,000 people have been affected.
Odisha.in