No food, drinking water for victims

BALASORE: Even as the flood water in the Subarnarekha, the Budhabalanga, the Kansabansa and the Jalaka rivers has started receding, normalcy is yet to be restored in the affected villages. As many as 194 villages remained marooned for the third consecutive day on Monday.The victims alleged that no relief, including drinking water pouches and baby food, has been distributed to them. While the district administration claimed that 4.41 lakh people in 813 villages of all the 12 blocks of the district have been affected in the recent floods, they have so far provided relief to only 1.46 lakh people.A release by the administration stated that 716.44 quintals of flattened rice and 66.56 quintals of jaggery had been distributed to the flood-hit.Around 10,037 people were rescued and they are being provided cooked food through 82 free kitchens. Sources said 59 boats had been deployed for rescue and relief operations.“We just have some dry food left with us which won’t last longer. The flood water is not receding and there is no supply of relief from the administration,” alleged Srihari Jena of Gujadiha village.Basanti Barik of Krushnapur village had the same story to narrate. “No polythene, food or kerosene has been distributed here. Even there is no fodder for the livestock,” she said.Sources said more than two lakh persons in the riverside hamlets of Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar, Bhogari, Simulia, Khaira and Remuna blocks are crying for relief.Collector Akhila Bihari Ota, however, said the victims were provided relief as per the State Relief Code.Meanwhile, several roads had been cut off with flood water flowing above them, electricity and telecommunication facilities were disrupted. Thousands of people on riverside villages have taken shelter on NH-60, cyclone shelters and schools.