Flood worsens in Orissa
22 Sep, 2008, 0238 hrs IST,Nageshwar Patnaik, ET Bureau

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Flood_worsens_in_Orissa/articleshow/3510887.cms

BHUBNESWAR: Coastal Orissa, reeling under worst floods is battling to save lakhs of people trapped by overflowing rivers. Already 19 persons are dead. Rescue workers evacuated some two lakh. Most deaths were caused by drowning. Torrential rains added to the woes of the people.

Large parts of coastal Orissa were inundated after authorities were forced to open dozens of sluice gates of Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi following heavy rain in the catchment area. The Mahanadi had breached its banks in several places and floodwaters had swept away highways in some areas.

At least 26 lakh people in 17 districts where affected while 5.7 lakh remained marooned. At least 1.55 hectares of crop area has been damaged.

The government has intensified air dropping of relief materials in marooned areas. A huge breach of 400 feet on embankment of the Bhargavi near Pipili town caused disruption of road communication between Puri town and Konark.