Authorities in Orissa struggle as floods spread

Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:40pm IST

By Jatindra Dash

BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Authorities battling floods in Orissa said on Monday they were struggling to rescue thousands of people stranded in remote villages as bad weather and swift river currents hampered rescue attempts.

More than half a million people in Orissa fled their homes when large parts of the state were flooded after authorities were forced to open sluice gates of a dam on the Mahanadi river last week, following heavy rains in the catchment area.

The rising waters of the Mahanadi and its tributaries broke through mud embankments and swamped hundreds of villages in the coastal region.

At least 16 people have been killed and 300,000 rescued so far, but officials said another half a million people were still marooned.

"Relief officials have not been able to reach many villages as the road links are cut off and boats cannot be used in the swift river current," G.V. Venugopala Sarma, a senior government official told Reuters. "It is quite a serious disaster."

Television pictures showed hungry children rushing towards food packets dropped by helicopters on a small patch of dry land.