Helicopters hold the hope of survival for thousands of marooned people in the flood-hit villages of Orissa, at least what it seems now. Seven helicopters of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy deployed in the air-dropping of food packets in the affected pockets had a hectic day on Monday as they made at least 21 sorties.
“Since most of the roads and bridges have washed away or still remain submerged, the state government has engaged seven helicopters in the relief operation. Besides, we have also engaged over 116 Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and 203 country boats in relief operations. They have reached almost all the affected pockets,” special relief commissioner (SRC) P.K. Mohapatra told reporters at the state secretariat here. The helicopters dropped nearly 60 tonnes of dry food.
In yet another development, chief minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to the Union petroleum minister S. Jaipal Reddy to immediately provide 2,400 kilo-litre kerosene to be supplied to the flood-hit people.