Flood situation due to continuing rains has snapped road communication in all the 22 blocks of Phailin cyclone-hit Ganjam district affecting the relief and rescue operations in big way. Thirteen teams of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) and eight teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were busy in rescuing marooned people in Ganjam district. As all road communication link to Shergarh, Dharakote, Polasara and Aska blocks had been snapped the NDRF teams had to be air lifted to these places by helicopter.
According to official reports, six persons have been killed during recent floods in this Phailin-affected district till Friday. They included two persons in Rangeilunda block who died because of collapse of walls. Four persons either drowned or got washed away by flood waters in Kavisuryanagar block. Speaking to The Hindu , Ganjam district Collector Krishen Kumar said it was still hard to reach Purushottampur, Kavisuryanagar and Polasara blocks. According to him water had started to recede in most flood marooned areas which may improve communication to flood-affected areas on Saturday if no more rains occur. But there are chances of aggravation of flood situation in coastal blocks like Ganjam and Chatrapur which have river mouths on Friday night, he added. By Friday afternoon 384 villages of 159 panchayats in Ganjam district had become cut off or marooned by the flood waters. Situation was grave in nine blocks. As per the administration, as relief of 50 kg. rice and Rs. 500 has already reached to around seven lakh families in the Phailin-hit district there was no dearth of food materials in most areas. Yet all the Block Development Officers (BDO) have been directed to arrange for free kitchens and dry food for flood victims. The Aska town which is situated between Rushikulya and Badanadi rivers has been flood-hit. The danger level of Rushikulya river at this town was 34.75 meters but the water was flowing at 35.37 metres at 6pm on Friday. Similarly the Badanadi river was flowing at 36.30 meters while the danger level was 35.42 meters.
The Phailin-hit Ganjam district received average rainfall of 130.5mm on Friday, which was slightly less than the average rainfall it had received on Thursday which was 175.23mm. It was expected that rainfall may recede tomorrow alleviating the flood situation to some extent.
