Though the flood situation in Odisha improved significantly, the inflow of rain water from the neighbouring West Bengal today caused marooning of 10 more villages in the bordering Balasore district even as the toll in the current spell of flood is five, officials said.
"All the major rivers in the state are flowing below the danger level. However, inflow of rain water from West Bengal, where heavy rainfall occurred under the effect of cyclonic system Komen, has caused marooning of some more villages in Balasore district," special relief commissioner (SRC) G V V Sarma said.
As per reports received from the Collectors of the concerned districts, the SRC said about 4.79 lakh people of 597 villages under 15 Blocks and one ULB in five districts namely Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhardak and Balasore have been affected by the current spell of flood.
Replying to a question, the SRC said so far five persons have died in the current spell of floods in the state. The death cases came from Balasore (2), one each from Mayurbhaj, Jajpur and Keonjhar. While four persons died of drowning, one succumbed to snake bite during the floods, Sarma said.
Sarma said while the number of villages marooned in recent floods in Balasore district was 10 till yesterday, it increased to 20.
"Marooned villages of Balsore district as on date have thus increased to 20 (Jaleswar Block-15 and Bhogarai Block-5)," the SRC said adding that water from all other villages which were earlier marooned has been cleared by now.
Preliminary estimate indicate that dwelling houses of about 664 families have been affected in Jajpur district, the SRC said adding that assessment of damage to private houses in other districts is under assessment. As per report of the Engineer-in-Chief, Rural Water Supply & Sanitation (RWSS), 2937 tube wells and 1 piper water supply system have been affected due to flood, he said.
As many as 32 groups have been engaged for repair/ disinfection of tube wells. 218 bags of bleaching powder (25kg each) have been provided for disinfection. 85,000 water pouches have been distributed in the flood affected areas. Damage to crop and public properties are under assessment.
Three of the four breaches occurred in the river embankments have been closed. Breach closing work of the remaining one breach on Kani Left embankment in Dasarathpur Block of Jajpur district is under progress, the SRC said.
