A flood-hit village in Kendrapara district. (PTI)

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi will tour the cyclone and flood-ravaged areas of Ganjam and Balasore next week.

Though the exact date of Sonia’s visit is yet to be decided, sources in the Congress said she would be here for a day.

“We have made a request to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on behalf of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee. Moved by plights of the marooned people, she has agreed to visit the state. The exact date of her visit would be announced after due procedure,” said a source.

Sources said Sonia was expected to visit Rangeilunda block in Ganjam and Baliapal in Balasore.

On the other hand, the state government today said the number of human casualties in the Phailin-triggered flood has gone up to 23. This pushed up the total number of people killed by Phailin and the floods to 44.

Revenue minister Surjya Narayan Patro said: “As floodwater has receded, most people have returned to their homes except a few in Balasore and Mayurbhanj. Around 34,4000 people have taken shelter in relief camps. In Balasore, 27,400 people are staying at two camps and 7,000 are there at two camps in Mayurbhanj.”

The state government today claimed that power supply had been restored in almost all areas with some variations in Ganjam, Berhampur, Chhatrapur, Ganadia, Krushnaprasad and Brahmagiri near the Chilika lake.

Finance minister Prasanna Acharya today made an aerial survey of the areas and directed the administration to supply relief materials in these areas for another 14 days.

“In Berhampur, power has been restored to make hospitals and the water supply system functional. It is expected that BSNL Bhavan and All India Radio stations will get power by today evening,” said Patro.

The state government also claimed that power supply had been restored to 23.63 lakh homes. The state has 36.5 lakh consumers, affected by the cyclone and resultant flood.

As the situation has gradually improved, the government decided to open all secondary schools from tomorrow.

“All the colleges will be opened, except Berhampur University that has been damaged severely. Even Khalikote College and other government colleges in Ganjam will open,” said higher education secretary Gagan Dhal.

On the other hand, the BJP and the Congress today alleged that the government was carrying out a misinformation campaign on the issue of providing relief materials to the people.

“The state government is distributing relief to the people on party lines. There are many people, who are yet to get the relief in the Ganjam district,” said leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.

BJP state president K.V. Singh Deo also alleged that relief materials were not reaching the actual victims.