Orissa residents complain of administrative apathy as flood situation worsens

Sambalpur (Orissa), Sep.13 (ANI): Complaining of administrative apathy, residents of Orissa's Sambalpur District, have said the flood situation is taking a turn for the worse, leaving villagers stranded without food and water.

A large number of people were forced to flee from their homes due to the rise in the levels of the floodwater as a result of incessant rainfall.

"Nobody can go out of Hirakud area. The passage through which the released water of Hirakud dam flows is closed, so, due to rainfall whole town is submerged in water from all sides. One of the blades of a drainage system is not working due to which the town is submerged in water. Around 300-400 houses are destroyed, people are shifted here and there but the amount of attention needed by administration is not there," said Ramesh Kumar, a resident.

Though the water level has gone down but the situation remains bleak as rivers were flowing above the danger mark.

Around 23 sluice gates of the Hirakud dam which is built on Mahanadi river were kept open to maintain balance of the inflow and outflow of water in the reservoir.

According to the authorities around 100 thousands of people are affected so far and about 15000 people are brought to relief camp till now.

However, Sailendra Jena, District Emergency Officer, claimed that the situation is under control and government is providing necessary facilities in the relief camp.

"54 relief centers are functioning. Some people have started going back to their homes as water level has decreased but all those people whose houses are broken and cannot o back home are still living there. The situation is this that relief camps are running and we have made arrangements for drinking water, cleanliness, distribution of bleaching powder, oral tablets, tablets for dehydration," he said.

People used boats, waded and drove through knee-deep water to reach safe places.

The monsoon this year caused heavy flood in several parts of India including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, claimed several lives and damaged properties. (ANI)