The Hindu : Front Page : Flood situation turning worse

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Flood situation turning worse

Staff Reporter

Air Force alerted for rescue and dropping food material for marooned villagers

Floodwater could not find its way to the sea owing to high tide
250 families evacuated to safer places

BHUBANESWAR: The flood situation in Balasore district is turning worse as floodwater could not find its way to the sea due to high tide on a full-moon day. The State Government on Wednesday alerted Air Force for rescue and dropping food material for marooned villagers.

While over eight lakh population has come under grip of the first phase flood in Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts, two casualties have so far been reported. Unofficial reports, however, put the figure at four.

Bridge washed away

Communication to blocks such as Jaleswar, Baliapal and Bhograi in Balasore district has been severely affected due to torrential rain. A bridge near Rupsa was washed away in swirling floodwater cutting off Balasore from Kolkata by both road and railway.

Jaleswar, Bhogarai, Baliapala, Balaosre Sadar. Morada, Badasahi and Rairangpur block Betanati, were partially affected.

Four platoons of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were pressed into service for rescue and relief work. More areas were inundated after two breaches occurred in Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts. Altogether 250 families have been evacuated to safer places.

Reviewing the flood situation, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Manmohan Samal said, “there will be no respite from floods for next three days due to full-moon day. We have alerted Air Force. Incessant rain near upper catchment areas is making the matter worse.”

Meanwhile, Revenue Control Room reported that although the water level in Budhabalanga river was decreasing fast, Subarnarekha River was overflowing at several places and the river system was also getting fed by more water.

East Coast Railways (ECR) cancelled several trains keeping in view the grim flood situation.

The Howrah-Chennai Coromandal Express and Howrah-Bhubaneswar-Howrah Dhauli Express trains were cancelled.

Similarly, Howrah-bound passengers of 2659 Nagercoil –Shalimar Gurudev Express and 2842 Chennai-Howrah Coromandal Express were being evacuated by bus to Howrah from Balasore and Contai Road respectively, the ECR said in a statement.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page