Rains scare flood-hit

BHUBANESWAR: With the low pressure-induced rains hampering relief work, particularly in the coastal region, the ordeal of the flood-hit still taking shelter on roads, bunds and community centres is unlikely to end soon. Scared that the rains may trigger flood yet again, people, who had returned to villages, rushed back to safety.The Government, however, took solace that the rains, which did hit relief work, would not cause any more flood.As flood water started receding in all the rivers, the State on Wednesday requested the Centre to depute an inter-ministerial team. Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro said collectors of the affected districts have been asked to make damage assessment.A preliminary memorandum will be submitted to the Central team on its arrival and the final one will be given after water receded completely, he said.Unlike in the previous years, the State Government  has not sought any interim financial assistance from the Centre to deal with relief and restoration measures. It now has `490 cr which includes last year’s carryover and `154 cr released by the Centre for Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).Patro hoped by Thursday evening water would recede from the submerged areas. But it would take two to three days for the situation to become normal in the low-lying areas, including the hard-hit Kanas and Gop in Puri district.A large number of people have left their villages and taken shelter on the embankments because of rains. Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said polythene distribution has started in all areas. Three senior officials have been deputed in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts to oversee the distribution.There was demand for additional polythene rolls from four districts __ Kendrapara, Puri, Bargarh and Sonepur. He said 3,000 rolls of polythene have been sent to Puri, Kanas and Delang.Water Resources department secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said the water level in Hirakud reservoir came down to 629.23 feet on Wednesday with an inflow of 1,12,476 cusecs and outflow of 1,12,476 cusecs.He said 22 lakh people have been affected in the flood in which 22 persons lost their lives and 12 others were swept away in the surging waters.