30 injured as make-shift podium collapses

Kendrapada, Sep 28 (UNI) About 30 people, including women and children, sustained minor injuries when a make-hift wooden podium caved in today during the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the flood-affected areas of the district.

Police said the mishap took place in Akhua village when the villagers, some of them children in the age group of 5-12 years, were standing on the make-shift podium to have a glimpse of the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister had arrived here to pay a visit to flood- affected areas of Kalabuda, Akhua and Jadupurgada to take stock of the situation and to see the extent of damages caused by the high flood in Mahanadi river system.

The flood-affected victims expressed their plight and urged the Chief Minister to rehabilitate them in a war footing basis as they have lost everything in the flood fury.

Mr Patnaik accompanied by Patkura MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak visited Akhua High School where free health camp and free kitchen were organised by the district administration.

He distributed meals to the flood-affected villagers and later visited the health camp. Mr Patnaik also visited Jadupurgada amid tight security.

On his way the Chief Minister met some farmers carrying damaged crops who urged him to come to their rescue and take steps for drainage of flood water, submerged vast stretches of agriculture field.

They demanded construction of sluice gates and the Chief Minister promised the farmers to take adequate steps in this regard.

He announced to repair all the flood damaged roads within three days in Kendrapara district.

Mr Patnaik directed the district administration to organise health check-ups on a regular basis and ordered that all the tube wells in the flood-hit areas be disinfected forthwith.

UNI XC DP ADG SB KP2228