Flood situation in Orissa continued to remain grim on Sunday, even as the death toll rose to 17. At least five helicopters, which were pressed into relief operation, made several round of sorties for over 10 hours beginning from 7 am. According to Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra, at least 3,128 villages in eight districts have been seriously hit in the second spell of high flood in major rivers like Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Kharashrota, Kansa Bansa and Budha rivers. “Situation is quite grim in Jajpur, Bhadrak and Kendrapara,” Mr Mohapatra said.
***
Rains claim 17 lives in U.P. in 24 hours
Amita Verma
Lucknow, Sept. 25
At least 17 people have been killed in the heavy rains that have been lashing across various parts of Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours.
A report from Jaunpur said that seven people were killed and six others injured when two houses collapsed in Gaurabadshahpur and Sikarara areas due to heavy rains on Saturday night.
In Gaurabadshahpur area, the house of a Dalit caved in as result of which Saklu (50), Rajdei (70), Kisuna (45), Kumari (45) and Suman (20) were buried alive.
In another incident, two minor sons of Durga Prasad were killed when their house in Mahmadpur in Sikarara area collapsed.
***
Floods hit Bihar again many evacuated
ANAND S.T. DAS
PATNA, SEPT. 25
Nine districts in southern Bihar are battling floods caused by the sudden increase in the water levels of the Ganga and the Sone for the second time this month. Evacuation and relief supply efforts were stepped up on Sunday even as river waters threatened to enter many villages. Large stretches of low-lying areas in nine districts — Rohtas, Aurangabad, Arwal, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, Munger, Jehanabad and Bhagalpur — were flooded, affecting thousands of villages. Alarmed by the steadily rising water levels in the Sone and the Ganga, the water resources department declared a red alert in these districts, which had also been partly flooded in the first week of this month.