By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: The flood situation continued to remain grim in many parts of Orissa Monday despite the water level in most of the rivers starting to recede, an official said.
“The water has receded in most of the rivers except Brahmani,” a senior official of the state flood control room told IANS.
The water level in Brahmani at Jenapaur in Bhadrak district was recorded 23.60 meters in the afternoon against the danger level of 23 meters, he said.
With three more deaths reported two from Bhadrak and one from Jajpur district, the toll from flood related incidents in the state this month has risen to 62.
At least five people were missing after being swept away by flood waters, the official said.
The state authorities have pressed into service one more helicopter – the seventh – for air dropping of food packets in the worst hit districts of Jajpur and Kendrapada as communication to many of the villages were cut off.
“The situation in the villages under Bari and Dharmasala block of Jajpur and Ali and Rajkanika block of Kendrapada districts was particularly critical,” the official said.
The state has witnessed two rounds of floods during past one month. The latest disaster was triggered by overflowing of Brahmani, Baitarani and Budhabalanga rivers. It has so far hit more than 2.1 million people in 10 northern and central districts during the past week.