Villagers take position on a well at flood-affected Pikarali in Kendrapara district on Tuesday. Telegraph picture Manoj Kar

Kendrapara, Aug. 5: Cry for relief grows louder at villages engulfed in vast sheet of floodwaters a day after an estimated 7,000 were left marooned as water got the better of river embankments in the district.

Operation to provide relief and evacuate the stranded people has failed to make satisfactory progress at the marooned villages of Luna-Chitrotpala deltaic region.

“The river water had gushed into our village since last evening. Our riverside village is located in a low-lying area. Flood is a recurring phenomenon for us. We had got ourselves prepared to face the exigency. We had moved ourselves to safer places much before the government agencies issued flood warning. But, it really pains us to describe that the government machinery is yet to reach us with relief. We are left to fend for ourselves. The marooned are yet to receive a grain of relief as yet,” said Adikanda Roul from flood-hit Diha-Balrampur village.

“A boat carrying government cattle feed relief arrived here today late afternoon. Those who brought the relief told us that food for human beings would arrive tomorrow morning. We are saved as all of us had brought food with us while leaving the village. Otherwise, we would have been starving,” said another flood-hit villager Ramakanta Sahu from Karandiapatana village.

“Lack of preparedness on part of the district administration has been exposed. Shortage of boats has affected relief and rescue. A country boat has been pressed into service to reach out the distressed people. But, the lone boat is turned unfit to wade through river water with strong current,” said Talagaon resident Himnashu Rath.

Signs of inactivity of government agencies are too glaring to escape notice. Boats lie idle at several strategic locations as relief materials get piled up in block offices instead of being dispatched to designated marooned spots. Similar is the case in around a dozen of villages, where people continue to be left to fend for themselves and fight against the government apathy.

Floodwater of Luna-Chitrotpala rivulets, tributaries of the Mahanadi, got the better of enfeebled capital embankments in the district last night, leaving nearly 7,000 residents marooned in 12 villages under Marshaghai and Garadpur blocks.

Water level in the Mahanadi river system is flowing above the danger mark in Kendrapara and below the danger level in Jagatsinghpur.

Kendrapara district emergency officer Rajnaikant Mohanty said: “Relief is being rushed to the flood-hit areas. However, cattle feeds have already been dispatched to the marooned areas. The concerned sarpanchs have been directed to organise free kitchens for the victims.”