14 killed, 11 missing in Orissa rains

Bhubaneswar, July 4 (UNI) The incessant rains triggered by a deep depression over north Bay of Bengal has claimed 14 lives in Orissa and affected as many as 12 of the total 30 districts in the state.

A review meeting was held here today to ascertain the loss of life and property besides the damages caused to the standing crop following the torrent rains that lashed several parts of Orissa.

Orissa Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal chaired the meeting attended by State Relief Commissioner Jagadananda Panda and other senior officials of the concerned departments.

Official sources said of the 14 killed in the rains, six died in two villages under Guma block in Gajapati district due to landslides. Eleven people were still reported missing from various places during the last three days as incessant rain triggered flash floods in three rivers.

The rains had affected Bhadrak, Bolangir, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khurda, Koraput, Nayagarh, Puri and Rayagada districts.

At least 75 villages had been affected in Rayagada, Gajapati, Bolangir, Kendrapada, Khurda and Puri districts. The authority had shifted 910 people from Gajapati district and rehabilitated them in 15 temporary camps and over 4000 people from Rayagada district.

Reports here said during the last three days Puri district has recorded a maximum of 424.3 mm rainfall followed by Rayagada (276.1 mm), Ganjam (238.2mm) and Gajapati (240.5mm). The government has asked the Collectors of the affected districts to submit report forthwith on the damages of houses so that the necessary ex-gratia would be released to the affected families.

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