Odisha government seeks flood damage report

The Odisha government today asked the collectors of flood-hit districts to submit damage assessment reports within Monday.

The government reacted after reports reached the state capital that a pregnant woman was made to cross the Kalyani river on a bamboo raft, official sources said.

"We have asked the district collectors of Rayagada, Kalahandi and others to submit damage assessment reports. The reports should include damages caused to bridges, roads, schools and also private properties," Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters after the state chief secretary held a meeting with different secretaries.

Balakrishnan said that people in remote areas are facing problems since bridges and roads were damaged in the flood-hit districts.
 

Seven bridges were damaged in Kalyansinghpur block in the recent flash floods and one bridge was repaired so far, sources said.

Sources in the special relief commissioner's (SRC) office said that the flood situation has substantially improved and the administration geared up relief activities in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.

SRC BP Sethi said ODRAF, NDRF, fire services and CRFF teams deployed for flood rescue operations were demobilised since the situation improved.

People in Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts have returned home from the relief camps and then the relief camps were closed, he said.