Naveen Asks Officials To Be Ready For Possible Flood Situation

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the officials to be ready and take necessary steps to deal with the possible flood situation in the state. The Chief Minister, who held a review meeting on the impending flood situation in the state, instructed various departments including the ODRAF, OSDMA and Fire departments to keep ready for any eventuality.

With the MET department predicting more rains in the days ahead due to the low pressure, the water level in various rivers is increasing. While Baitarini and Jalaka have already shown flood like situation, the water level in other rivers is stable.

Due to heavy rainfall in the last 48 hours in various districts, many low lying areas have been inundated and roads have been washed out in many places. Extensive damage has also been reported from various areas. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting as water levels are likely to rise in various rivers with the possibility of more rains.

Pradeep Kumar Jena, Additional Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner, said seven districts of the state have received an average of an average of 100 mm rainfall in the last two days. Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Salandi rivers are at full capacity. There is also a possibility of more rains in the next 24 hours. Ten ODRAF and Fire Service units have been deployed to rescue people during the floods.

The Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy also held a virtual review meeting on the current rainfall and flood situation with the District Collectors, Secretaries of various departments and RDCs. He advised them to remain alert, do patrolling of embankments, evacuate people from river side low lying villages and engage ODRAF, NDRF, Fire Service personnel for search and rescue operations.

Further instructions were also issued to restore communication at the earliest, provide health support, keep stock of anti snake venom in all Hospitals, provide food to evacuated people, prevent piping of the embankments, provide polythene and other support as per norms to the damaged houses.

The Chief Secretary also asked the officials to go for early assessment of house and crop damages and submit report to the SRC.