Balasore, Oct 1 (Odisha.in) The recent flash flood in Surarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers has crossed all limits with affecting over 16 lakh people and killing 13 persons in Balasore district alone.
Even though the three rivers have receded, the overall flood situation has not improved significantly only because the floodwaters are not letting out into sea due to high tides.
Officially, over three lakh people in Basta, Sadar, Remuna, Bhogarai and Baliapal blocks are marooned till Sunday. Except the causalities, the devastation is no less than that of 1999 super cyclone.
The district has witnessed fifth flood within past two months. But in the latest floods over 300 villages in Bhogarai, Jaleswar, Baliapal, Khaira and Oupada blocks are cut off from the mainstream even a week after the deluge hit.
Vehicular traffic has been disrupted on Balasore-Baliapal, Balasore-Bhogarai, Jaleswar- Chandaneswar, Bhogarai- Chandaneswar, Basta-Baliapal and Soro-Khaira-Oupada road since September 22 as because floodwater is flowing over the connecting roads and bridge collapse.
“We are worried a lot over the frequent floods. Again and again the northern blocks are being victim of the nature. This time 2383 villages under 265 GPs in all the 12 blocks of the district have been affected,” told Collector AC Padhiary.
“We declared three-day relief for all the flood-victims. Though initially the distribution was affected due to lack of boats later it was expedited. Now we have decided to give four more days relief to 27 marooned GPs,” he added.
Meanwhile, the people who have been badly hit have blamed the government for not taking any permanent measures to tackle regular floods.
“As riverside villagers we have been facing the fury of floods time and again. But the government is not initiating any steps to protect our lives. We are in fact living a deadly life,” told Pratap Mohapatra of Kasipada village whose house has been washed away.
“The latest flood played havoc as the breaches caused during last floods were not repaired,” he added. The administration claimed to have taken possible measures to tackle the situation.
“Despite all odd situations we are trying our level best to reach all flood-victims. 20 ODRAF boats have been engaged for relief operation.
The district has faced the worst flood in the season after a series of floods in July and August,” said district project coordinator of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Pratap Mishra, who is overseeing relief distribution.
“Around 1200 quintals of flattened rice and over 8500 quintals of rice have already been distributed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the district administration has demanded Rs 500 crore as flood assistance for the district. “We have submitted our memorandum to the Chief Minister,” the collector added.
Odisha.in