Orissa Toll 24

Orissa floods toll rises to 24 in the three days
12 Jul 2007, 2332 hrs IST, PTI (Times of India, Updated: 15 Jul 2007, 1605hrs IST )

BHUBANESWAR: At least 24 people have died in the floods in Orissa's northern districts even as the water levels of different rivers have now receded and are flowing below the danger mark.

The state government was taking steps to prevent the outbreak of diseases and tubewells in flood-affected areas were being repaired on a war-footing to provide safe drinking water to the people, Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal said today while tabling a statement in the assembly on the flood situation.

He said "at least 24 persons died in the recent floods with the highest number of 16 deaths reported from Balasore district alone", followed by Bhadrak where six people died while one person each died in Jajpur and Keonjhar districts. The water levels of Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Baitarani and Jalaka rivers were now flowing below the danger level.

Officials said the government was busy assessing the loss of properties in the floods and had urged the Centre to send a team to visit the affected areas. A number of state roads were washed away while breaches occured in different places.

The government, however, claimed that it had successfully managed the relief and rescue operations during the flood and providing cooked food to the people as their houses were severely damaged.

The districts which had been affected due to the floods and heavy rainfall are: Balasoree, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Sundargarh.