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Food yet to reach flood victims - Marooned people wait for help in Jajpur and Bhadrak

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OUR BUREAU ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AMULYA KUMAR PATI IN JAJPUR, SIBDAS KUNDU IN BALASORE AND SUBRAT MOHANTY IN SAMBALPUR Published 24.07.14, 12:00 AM

Bhubaneswar, July 23: Thousands of flood-hit people in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts were in need of food and other essential supply even after two days of flood in the Baitarani river.

On the other hand, bodies of three persons were retrieved from a car, which was swept away in floodwater of the Jeera river in Bargarh district.

Hirakud dam authorities will release excess water tomorrow. The reservoir is being filled up following heavy rain in upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh.

Police and fire brigade today retrieved the bodies of three persons from a car, which was swept away in the Uttali nullah at Sahajbahal in the Bijepur police limits of Bargarh district on Monday.

The deceased were identified as car driver Anadi Kahanar, 46, Malaya Mahamullick, 36, and Basanti Behera, 35. Sources said they had gone to Bijepur from Kusurda. The incident took place while they were coming back. The car had tried to cross a low bridge on the Uttali nullah, which was submerged. The vehicle was swept away by the strong current. The matter came to light after the bodies and the car started surfacing today.

In Jajpur, high flood in the Baitarani had caused a 100-foot breach leaving over 40,000 people marooned.

“The breach has totally damaged my thatched house. All our household articles and food stuff have been washed away by the floodwater,” said Bhimsen Jena of Patapur village. The Jenas have taken shelter on a high land under open sky. “My family is without food and water since yesterday morning. The government help has not reached us yet,” said Jena.

Not only Patapur villagers, but also thousands of flood victims of many villages have been without foods since yesterday. “We are marooned by floodwater. It has also gushed into my house damaging all my household articles. We are spending day and night without food and even drinking water,” said Kamalpur villager Ramesh Das.

Many flood victims have taken shelter on high land and river embankment under the open sky. They also fear snake bites as the waters have submerged the area.

“We are scared of snake and other poisonous creatures which may come into our makeshift habitat as the area is submerged with floodwater,” said Anadi Behera, another flood victim of Syamsundarpur. Official sources said that about 78,000 people of 47 villages under 16 gram panchayats of Dasarathapur block in Jajpur district have been affected due to the flood. Of them, 40,000 people remain marooned.

In Bhadrak district, flood situation has improved a bit as the rivers are receding though the Baitarani was flowing above the danger level.

Bhadrak sub-collector Ramchandra Palta said: “Three villages — Sathibankudi, Amrit Mani and Alanga — were affected following a breach occurred on the Baitarini embankment yesterday. Marooned people were evacuated and provided with free kitchen.”

Four persons of Kanjimal village under Khatipada gram panchayat of Dhamnagar block had taken shelter on the treetop. Fire brigade personnel rescued them in the early hours of the morning.

Sathibankudi villager Umesh Dalei, 50, said: “The administration should take immediate steps to restore the breached portion and strengthen the other weak patches,” he said.

Bhadrak collector Laxminarayan Mishra said: “A close vigil is being maintained near the breached portion.”

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