Relief trickles into flood victims in Orissa

Kendrapada (Orissa), Sep 26: Self help groups and government authorities are carrying out relief operations in flood-hit Orissa. Authorities have deployed the Naval units and paramilitary forces in Kendrapada district of the State to rescue people.

Medical teams have been making rounds in the affected areas as the danger of epidemics looms large over the district after the water having receded from most of the areas.

The relief workers are distributing packets of dry food and free kitchens have been started in villages to provide meals to the flood victims.

"As of now, we have been able to cover all the affected 130 gram panchayats (village council areas), at least the initial dry food stuff and also cooked food through free kitchens which we have organised through NGO's as well as through Panchayati Raj (village council) representatives. Drinking water has been supplied initially through pouches. Tanker arrangement has been made. We have deployed about 83 medical teams through medical relief centres," said Hemant Sharma, incharge of relief operations.

The money to run the free kitchens is coming from volunteers as they do their bit to provide respite to flood victims, who have been grappling with hunger and thirst for long.

"We are spending money from our pockets. We have set up free kitchen here to provide them some relief," said Kali Panda, a volunteer.

Meanwhile, death toll due to floods in the state rose to 56 with more breaches in embankments engulfing fresh areas in Mahanadi deltaic region where around 800,000 people are still marooned.

ANI