Authorities step up relief efforts to tackle floods in Orissa

Health authorities in Puri, Orissa, have stepped up relief efforts after floods killed 16 people and rendered thousands homeless in the last one week.

Since the flood situation in Orissa continues to look grim, the state government has provided at least three helicopters, two of which are from the Indian Navy while the third one has been provided by the federal government.

At least 15 quintals of dry food items were air-dropped in the marooned areas of Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur district.

According to a report presented by the Orissa government, at least 97,117 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas to safer havens.

As water levels in Mahanadi and other rivers have gradually started receding, the state administration has dispatched several medical teams to the affected pockets.

In fact, these teams are providing the required medicines, bleaching powder and electrolytes.

"Though the position has slightly started improving, still many areas are marooned and to deal with the present situation, the government is very actively working and we have dispatched quite a good number and a good quantity of medicines as well as other material. Even before the flood came, apprehending such a situation, we had earlier also dispatched a good quantity of medicines and other materials to the remote areas," said Prasanna Acharya, Orissa's Health Minister.

In addition, the health department has sent various senior officers to the flooded areas. To aid these flood victims, the government has set up 373 medical rehabilitation centres and 107 mobile health units.

Since post-flood period has a high possibility of outbreak of various water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea, medical teams are presently engaged in massive sanitation work to mitigate its impact.

Meanwhile, locals complained of lack of drinking water facilities and said that they had no access to any kind of medical treatment.

"We are facing drinking water problems because all the tube wells are submerged in flood water. We have no choice but to drink this water, so many of us are suffering from fever and diarrhoea. As of now, no doctors have come here," said Radha Madhab, a flood victim.

At least 170,000 people in 19 districts have been severely hit by these floods and nearly a dozen people are still missing.

People used boats, waded and drove through knee-deep water to reach safer places.

The monsoon this year caused heavy flood in several parts of India, including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, claimed several lives and damaged properties. (ANI)