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Flash floods cut off Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada

Authorities began air-dropping food items in the cyclone-affected north Orissa today, even as relief operations received a setback in the two worst-hit districts of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada where flash floods submerged all roads links.

The authorities today decided to air-drop food packets in north Orissa and Jajpur districts as relief to these areas could not be despatched by road.

Reports received from various cyclone-ravaged districts said that altogether 125 bodies had so far been recovered. Puri with 51 deaths is the worst hit district, followed by Cuttack with 39 deaths. So far 15 deaths have been reported from Kendrapada district while no reports have yet been received from Jagatsinghpur.

According to Special Relief Commissioner D N Padhi, helicopters were engaged in air-dropping food packets, while army personnel were making efforts to clear roads to reach Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts.

A flash flood in Salandi river has inundated Bhadrak town in north Orissa and floods in Baitarani river have cut off Jajpur district from the rest of the country.

Padhi said 29 wagons carrying food material had arrived in Bhubaneswar. One more column of the army had been asked to proceed from Ganjam to the affected districts to undertake relief operations. The state government had requested the Centre to supply more power boats, he said.

The all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang last night expressed serious concern about anti-social elements looting relief material on the way. The government has stepped up police patrolling on the national highways to prevent such incidents. At least six companies of paramilitary forces, including four Central Reserve Police Force companies from Jamshedpur and two Central Industrial Security Force companies from Rourkela, have arrived in Bhubaneswar.

UNI

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