Trapped for hours, rescued by IAF, Orissa victims recall ordeal
September 22nd, 2008 - 3:55 pm ICT by IANS
Kendrapada (Orissa), Sep 22 (IANS) Two men in their 60s were trapped on the roof of a building in a flood-hit Orissa village for 12 hours until an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper came to their help. They recount their ordeal with horror and can’t stop thanking the defence personnel. “If it was not for the Indian Air Force’s helicopter, no one would have even tried to come to our rescue,” said 65-year-old Sadananda Sahoo, recalling his ordeal.
The Luna river breached an embankment at Jagannathpur village in the worst-hit Kendrapada district, some 150 km from state capital Bhubaneswar Friday night, leaving around 2,000 villagers marooned.
Most of them managed to flee to safer places and highways, but at least 18 people were stranded on the first floor of a building surrounded by floodwaters.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Relief operations hit in Orissa
Press Trust Of India / Bhubaneswar September 22, 2008, 11:59 IST
Despite falling water level in Orissa rivers including the virulent Mahanadi, relief operation in flood ravaged areas was today hit due to shortage of manpower and boats, worsening the plight of over six lakh marooned people.
Miseries of the flood-hit were compounded by intermittent rains triggered by a low pressure at several coastal areas while deluge due to 61 breaches in Mahanadi delta region continued, sources said.
The only solace to the distressed was the falling water level of the swollen rivers. The volume of water flowing through Munduli near Cuttack city declined to 11.6 lakh cusecs this morning as against 12.83 lakh cusecs recorded yesterday, the flood control cell here said.
Press Trust Of India / Bhubaneswar September 22, 2008, 11:59 IST
Despite falling water level in Orissa rivers including the virulent Mahanadi, relief operation in flood ravaged areas was today hit due to shortage of manpower and boats, worsening the plight of over six lakh marooned people.
Miseries of the flood-hit were compounded by intermittent rains triggered by a low pressure at several coastal areas while deluge due to 61 breaches in Mahanadi delta region continued, sources said.
The only solace to the distressed was the falling water level of the swollen rivers. The volume of water flowing through Munduli near Cuttack city declined to 11.6 lakh cusecs this morning as against 12.83 lakh cusecs recorded yesterday, the flood control cell here said.
Flood situation worsens in Orissa
Sampad Mahapatra
Monday, September 22, 2008, (Kendrapara)
Hundreds of families in Kendrapara are headed for the highway.
Fresh breaches in river embankments have flooded new areas in the coastal district with an alarming pace, forcing people to flee their homes.
"The water around our village has been rising too fast and that's why we decided to get out," says one local.
The water levels of Mahanadi and other branch rivers are showing a receding trend near Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, but downstream in areas like Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack the water-level is rising steadily.
There have been 61 breaches and that explains why water has been spreading in all directions, inundating fresh areas.
Sampad Mahapatra
Monday, September 22, 2008, (Kendrapara)
Hundreds of families in Kendrapara are headed for the highway.
Fresh breaches in river embankments have flooded new areas in the coastal district with an alarming pace, forcing people to flee their homes.
"The water around our village has been rising too fast and that's why we decided to get out," says one local.
The water levels of Mahanadi and other branch rivers are showing a receding trend near Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, but downstream in areas like Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack the water-level is rising steadily.
There have been 61 breaches and that explains why water has been spreading in all directions, inundating fresh areas.
A flood of negligence
The flood in Orissa is yet another story of man-made disasters, coming just after the Bihar one, on account of gross apathy by government agencies
It is unfortunate and no surprise that the flood in Orissa is yet another story of man-made disasters, coming just after the Bihar one, on account of gross apathy by government agencies.
Top bureaucrats responsible for the matter have already admitted that it was lack of timely repair and maintenance work on the Kosi embankments by India that wreaked havoc in Bihar. This, despite daily updates on rising water levels at their disposal for several months. Orissa is now suffering, thanks to similar, indeed criminal, negligence.
Analysing weekly data released by the Central Water Commission, and daily data from the Orissa government about water flow in the Mahanadi river and reservoir levels in the Hirakud dam, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an NGO, has pointed to a total disconnect between information and action by the government.
It has highlighted how despite having a flood control cushion, apathy in operating the dam—filling up the reservoir to full capacity before the end of the monsoon, in violation of an official expert committee recommendation—has led to an avoidable flood disaster.
The flood in Orissa is yet another story of man-made disasters, coming just after the Bihar one, on account of gross apathy by government agencies
It is unfortunate and no surprise that the flood in Orissa is yet another story of man-made disasters, coming just after the Bihar one, on account of gross apathy by government agencies.
Top bureaucrats responsible for the matter have already admitted that it was lack of timely repair and maintenance work on the Kosi embankments by India that wreaked havoc in Bihar. This, despite daily updates on rising water levels at their disposal for several months. Orissa is now suffering, thanks to similar, indeed criminal, negligence.
Analysing weekly data released by the Central Water Commission, and daily data from the Orissa government about water flow in the Mahanadi river and reservoir levels in the Hirakud dam, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, an NGO, has pointed to a total disconnect between information and action by the government.
It has highlighted how despite having a flood control cushion, apathy in operating the dam—filling up the reservoir to full capacity before the end of the monsoon, in violation of an official expert committee recommendation—has led to an avoidable flood disaster.
Orissa flood: 61 breaches, no respite
Soumyajit Pattnaik, Hindustan Times
Bhubaneswar, September 21, 2008
First Published: 22:36 IST(21/9/2008)
Last Updated: 22:42 IST(21/9/2008)
The flood situation continues to be grim in Orissa with the Mahanadi and its tributaries breaking banks at more places and the state expecting no respite for a week.
Embankments have now been breached at 61 places. Seventeen people have been killed and 24 lakh affected in what has been described as unprecedented floods in the Mahanadi river system. So far, 2.66 lakh people have been evacuated. Crop standing on 1.55 lakh hectares has been inundated.
“The flood situation is likely to continue for another seven days. It has improved in some areas, but there is fresh concern in certain parts of the state,” Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy said.
According to government estimates, nearly 5.7 lakh people in 1,849 villages are still marooned as communication links with many districts have snapped. As many as 473 villages in Cuttack, 150 in Jagatsinghpur, 160 in Jajpur, 645 in Puri and 421 in Kendrapara district have been submerged. While 3,683 villages in 951 gram panchayats have been affected, the surging waters have damaged 1,552 roads.
Soumyajit Pattnaik, Hindustan Times
Bhubaneswar, September 21, 2008
First Published: 22:36 IST(21/9/2008)
Last Updated: 22:42 IST(21/9/2008)
The flood situation continues to be grim in Orissa with the Mahanadi and its tributaries breaking banks at more places and the state expecting no respite for a week.
Embankments have now been breached at 61 places. Seventeen people have been killed and 24 lakh affected in what has been described as unprecedented floods in the Mahanadi river system. So far, 2.66 lakh people have been evacuated. Crop standing on 1.55 lakh hectares has been inundated.
“The flood situation is likely to continue for another seven days. It has improved in some areas, but there is fresh concern in certain parts of the state,” Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy said.
According to government estimates, nearly 5.7 lakh people in 1,849 villages are still marooned as communication links with many districts have snapped. As many as 473 villages in Cuttack, 150 in Jagatsinghpur, 160 in Jajpur, 645 in Puri and 421 in Kendrapara district have been submerged. While 3,683 villages in 951 gram panchayats have been affected, the surging waters have damaged 1,552 roads.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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