Floods hit Orissa hard, 23 dead

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Sept. 26: The upper air circulation over the coastal areas of the state and the forecast of more rains in the next 24 hours compounded the miseries of 26 lakh flood affected people across seven districts.
Floods have already claimed 23 lives and rendered thousands homeless. Agricultural lands remained submerged even though the rivers continued to recede for the second day today.
Official sources said relief and rescue operations are in full swing and over Rs 1.45 crore has already been released from the calamity relief fund.
People have been marooned in Balasore, where the Budhabalanga and Subernarekha rivers have become flooded. Several parts of the district have been cut off.
While complaints of relief not reaching the affected districts, the officials claimed that they had already despatched huge quantities of rice and other food stuff. There was no respite from the rains as a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal caused showers.

Repair orders
Works and Housing minister Mr AU Singh Deo today directed the departmental officers and engineers to repair the roads that have been damaged in the recent rains. Estimates show that a total of Rs 108 crore is required for the restoration work.
A review of the damages caused by floods revealed that about 204 roads under the works department in 10 districts have been affected in the rains. There have been breaches on the roads at 53 places, out of which 23 have been repaired. The repair work on the other breaches are on .
Mr Singh Deo took stock of the whole situation and the reviewed the requirement of funds for undertaking repair and restoration work.