Affirming that miseries of people in flood-hit areas have compounded due to water receding slowly from villages, the Odisha government today rushed health teams, stepped up disinfection and relief activities as the death toll due to floods stood at 45.
"Though water level has receded in almost all rivers, there is no respite from miseries in flood-hit areas," special relief commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra told reporters after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary G C Pati separately reviewed flood situations in the state.
Stating that water release had slowed down since yesterday, the SRC said "As many as 2,90,158 people in 294 villages remained marooned since floods hit the state last week."
The highest number of people marooned were in 114 villages of Kendrapara district followed by 112 villages in Puri district, Mohapatra said adding water level in all rivers have receded, but not substantially in the villages.
While the recent floods have hit 33.5 lakh people in 23 districts, as many as 31,930 houses have been damaged in the calamity according to the preliminary estimation made by the state government.
Apprehending outbreak of epidemic after clearance of water from villages, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked officials to disinfect all tubewells and other water sources used for drinking purposes.
Patnaik also directed the officials to ensure supply of safe drinking water to the people marooned in different villages.
