Flood threat

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday reviewed flood preparedness at the state secretariat here and asked officials to be prepared to effectively deal with the situation. Patnaik asked the officials to deploy mobile patrolling teams to watch and protect the weak and vulnerable embankments. He said people inundated in low lying areas must be evacuated to safer places well in advance and provision for free kitchen be immediately started for them. 
The water level of Baitarani crossed danger mark on Tuesday inundating several villages in Keonjhar district. A source said that water was flowing at 39.12 metres surpassing the danger mark of 38.44 metres.   

Rebel appeal

Bhubaneswar: Maoists appealed to the people to observe martyr’s week from July 28 to August 3 through a banner that appeared at Talagumandi village on Tuesday. The banner in the name of Koraput-Srikakulam division asked the tribals to pay homage to slain 31 cadres of the outlawed outfit in the police encounter in Chhattisgarh in October. Division secretary Daya and other leaders heading Malkangiri and Narayanpatna areas were among the rebels.

Train derails

Bhubaneswar: Tatanagar-Barbil passenger train was reportedly derailed near Nalda in Keonjhar district on Monday night. The train derailed nearly seven kilometres away from Barbil when it was on its way from Tatanagar to Barbil. Locals rushed to the spot and brought the passengers safely. No casualty has been reported in the incident.

Cops training 

Sambalpur: A one-day training programme of district-level officers on Operation Muskan-III was held in the conference hall of Odisha Crime Branch here on Tuesday. The aim of the training programme was to sensitise the police officials about various aspects of the law, procedure and handling of children, said director general of police of crime branch special B.K. Sharma on social media on Tuesday.