Odisha flood situation worsens

At least 10 people were feared killed and 95,000 evacuated as the flood situation worsened in Odisha following incessant rain in most parts of the state for the fifth consecutive day on Friday.

Of the ten deaths, 6, including 4 members of a family were killed in wall collapse in Jagatsinghpur district and four others were swept away in floods in Ganjam district, Special Relief Commissioner, P K Mohapatra said.

As many as 46 gram panchayats in six blocks of Ganjam were facing the wrath of flood due to continuous rain triggered by the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. The blocks affected in flash floods in Ganjam include Chikiti, Hinjili, Sana Khemundi, Patrapur, Dharakote and Aska. Two blocks of adjoining Gajapati district – Parlakhemundi and Mohana – were also witnessing flooding.

The relief and restoration works, which were going on in the cyclone-ravaged areas of Ganjam and other areas as well as the flood-hit areas of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts in northern Odisha, had been affected. Many families who had lost their houses in the cyclone and flood were yet to be provided polythene sheets to live in makeshift hutments.Review Android Smartphone

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the flood situation at a high level meeting at the State Secretariat here, directed the concerned departments to take necessary measures to cope with the emerging flood situation. He also asked the administration to evacuate people living in low-lying areas.

The Odisha government on Friday ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in the flood-hit districts till Monday in view of the grim flood situation.

All trains between Khurda Road and Vizianagaram have been halted since 10 am on Friday, Mr. J.P. Mishra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Coast Railway told.

The trains had been halted because water was flowing over the rail tracks between Balugaon and Chilika stations. The Visakha Express had returned from Kalupada Ghat to Bhubaneswar. A special train has been sent from Bhubaneswar to Balugaon to pick up stranded passengers, Mr. Mishra added.

As many as 29 trains were diverted on alternative routes to south India while three trains remained cancelled between Bhubaneswar and Palasa.

Head of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department S.C. Sahu informed that rains were likely to continue over the next 24 hours.