Four more die in Orissa floods, toll at 26 Bhubaneswar, Sep 15: Four people died in Orissa Thursday in flood-related incidents, taking to 26 the toll

Four more die in Orissa floods, toll at 26
Bhubaneswar, Sep 15: Four people died in Orissa Thursday in flood-related incidents, taking to 26 the toll in the disaster that has affected more than two million people, an official said.





The four deaths have been reported from the worst-hit Kendrapada district, a senior official of the state flood control room here told IANS.


The number of persons swept away or drowned during the week-long calamity has remained at 12. Their bodies have not yet been found, he said, adding that no fresh cases of drowning has been reported Thursday.

As the water level in rivers have receded substantially and most affected villages are accessible by road or boats, the air dropping operations have been concluded, he said.

Four helicopters of the navy and air force were engaged in the operations for past more than three days.

The floods triggered by heavy rains and release of huge water from Hirakud dam have affected 19 of the state's 30 districts.

The districts worst hit by the calamity include Jagatsingpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Boudh, Subarnapur, Cuttack and Nayagarh. The number of dwelling houses damaged by the floods was more than 31,000, the official said.

The state government said 368 relief camps and free kitchen centres have been opened in the affected areas and food relief provided to nearly two lakh people so far.


--IANS