Balasore

Tens of thousands remain marooned in flood-hit Orissa

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Balasore (Orissa), July 10 (ANI): Tens of thousands of people remain marooned in flood-affected Balasore District in Orissa, even as the State administration claimed to have distributed relief materials to them.

Authorities claimed that hundreds of tonnes of food material were distributed among people displaced in floods in the district.

They said they have distributed relief material for three days to the affected people and more would follow.

Authorities swung into action after an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has announced a slew of relief measures.

Alekh Padhihary, District Collector of Balasore, said: "We have completed distribution of three days relief to the affected people, which amounts to 6219 quintals. We are in the process of distributing the balance quantity relief, which is about 10,700 quintals for the remaining four days as per the announcement of the Chief Minister".

Homes remain submerged in floodwaters with several rivers overflowing above their danger mark.

"In the midnight, the floodwaters entered our homes and swept away all our belongings. We just managed to save our lives. No government help is reaching us. There is not one morsel to eat or feed the children," said Arati Behera.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring West Bengal, at least six districts remain cut off from the rest of the country after surging rivers broke through mud embankments and swamped hundreds of villages.

Floods in West Bengal have affected at least 700,000 people and thousands were being evacuated to higher grounds, officials said.

East and west Midnapore district of the state were the worst hit. (ANI)