Heavy rains, flash floods kill 15 people in Orissa

Kalahandi (Orissa), July 15 (ANI) Heavy rains and flash floods have killed 15 people in Orissa state, authorities said on Wednesday.

People were seen wading through submerged roads in villages and towns in knee-deep water in Kalahandi district in the state, which received 260 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours.

"Fifteen deaths have been reported by various Collectors but out of the total fifteen, four dead bodies are yet to be found," said Surya Narayan Patro, State minister for Revenue and Disaster management.

The Sate Government has sanctioned a compensation of 100,000 rupees to each of the families of those who perished.

Local authorities have also been asked to stock food and put rescue teams on standby with the meteorological department predicting more rains in the next 48 hours.

Heavy rains also breached roads in state capital Bhubaneshwar.

The State of over 36 million people is prone to cyclones and floods that killed hundreds in previous years. (ANI)