24 lakh hit in Orissa floods

http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/22/stories/2008092255991300.htm

Satyasundar Barik

Villages under water after 61 breaches in river embankments

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Flood victims with their children waiting to get biscuit packets in 42 Mouja in Cuttack district of Orissa on Sunday.

BHUBANESWAR: Flooding in the Mahanadi continued on Sunday causing 61 breaches in river embankments, leaving behind a trail of devastation submerging hundreds of villages. Lakhs of people were waiting for rescue and relief in the flooded zones.

According to State Revenue and Disaster Management (RDM) department, 5,70,000 people in 1,849 villages were marooned owing to floods in Mahanadi and many of its branch rivers.

A total of 24 lakh people of the State were affected by this flood, stated to be a massive one seen in last few decades. The official death toll figure was put at 17.