People use bags filled with sand to stop river water from entering their village in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 12: The state government today stepped up its relief operation and pressed into service four choppers for air-dropping relief materials in the flood-affected areas.

Death toll went up to 17 with a woman being swept away by floodwater at Haradjor in Sambalpur. The deceased was identified as Libi Oram of Charbhati in Sambalpur. Libi had been to Haradjor to take bath at noon. The water current swept her away.

Floodwaters also swept away a child at Ratanpur village in Jajpur district. Another child was swept away in the Dhanua river in Puri district. However, their bodies are yet to be retrieved.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik along with revenue and disaster management minister Surya Narayan Patra made an aerial survey of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudha and the Hirakud reservoir. On the other hand, a delegation of the Congress, led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik, also made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Boudh and other districts. “All out efforts are being made to reach out to people,” said Naveen after taking up a review of official preparedness.

However, the PCC president alleged that the state government had failed in reaching out to the marooned people and providing relief.

Though water discharge from the Hirakud reservoir has come down, floodwater is not being released to the sea through various river mouths in the deltaic region because of full-moon. “During full-moon, the sea receives less water. However, the sea would continue to receive more water from tomorrow,” said Patra.

The number of people affected owing to flood has gone up to 19.25 lakh from 14 lakh in 19 districts. Several areas of the state remained cut off because of flood.

People at Gop and Kanas in Puri district and Marshaghai and Garadpur in Kendrapara are bearing the brunt of inundation. Water is flowing above the road connecting Delanga and Kanas.

Ground floor of the Kanas High School in Puri district is under three feet water. A number of breaches have developed on the embankments of the Mahanadi river and its tributaries.

People at Athagarh and Banki in Cuttack district, Nimapara in Puri district, Alipingal and the low-lying areas in Jagtsinghpur district, Sonepur town and Sambalpur, too, were facing a tough time.

A total number of 48 breaches have been reported on various river embankments. Of these, 35 breaches have developed in the Mahanadi river system.

Now, the Hirakud dam authorities have opened up 16 gates. The state government today claimed that it had so far evacuated 1.48 lakh people to safer places.

Sources said more than two lakh people across 424 villages in Cuttack district remained marooned even as the flood water started to recede marginally in the Mahanadi and the Kathajodi rivers.

Official sources said around 4.90 lakh people in 14 blocks of the district have been affected by the Mahanadi and the Kathajodi flood. The flood has affected 144 villages in Athgarh, 134 in Banki and 195 villages in Cuttack Sadar and inundated crops across 38,104 hectares.

In Jagatsinghpur district, 52,076 people at 84 villages of 32 gram panchayats remained marooned. The flood has claimed one life.

Over 4.12 lakh people living at 315 villages under 88 gram panchayats were marooned in the worst-hit Kendrapara district, which reported six deaths.