Odisha Flood Response 2014
Odisha is vulnerable to multiple
disasters. Due to its sub-tropical littoral location, the State is prone to
tropical cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis. The river systems having densely
populated coastal plains which are rich in alluvial deposits. The rivers in
these areas with heavy load of silt have very little carrying capacity,
resulting in frequent floods, only to be compounded by breached embankments.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department from year 1891 to 2000, 98
nos. of cyclones/severe cyclones had crossed the Odisha coast. This is more
than that of the coast of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh,
Like every year a severe flood hit
alarmed about 23 district of Odisha in the month of July and August 2014. The
state of Odisha there was torrential rain fall continuous since 22nd
July to 5th of August 2014 due to several low pressures. The
increase of water in the river Mahanadi, Baitarani and Budhabalnga water submerged
the villages and people are in water arrest in different parts of Odisha for
many days. Around 18
lakh peoples from 1084 Gram Panchayats of 3990 villages have been arrested by
the water and total 132 blocks of 23 districts have been affected by the flood and
35 human causality are reported in the state.
The death
toll due to floods and heavy rain in different parts of the state went up to 34
with seven fresh deaths reported since Wednesday, the SRC said, adding, most of
the casualties were due to drowning and wall collapse
However,
as flow of water into the river went down, it has been decided to first close
three gates and subsequently more gates after assessing the situation, he said,
adding flow into the reservoir from upper catchment areas was now around 7.8
lakh cusec.
As river
Mahanadi and its tributaries were flowing above the danger level at several
places including Naraj, Jobra and Daleighai, flood water submerged many areas
where relief and rescue operation was intensified.
Many parts
of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda and Puri districts were hit by
flood in Mahanadi, even as situation in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts continued
to be grave due to submergence of vast areas by flood in Baitarani though water
level in the river is slowly falling, the SRC said.
As many
as 9.95 lakh people in 1,553 villages of 89 blocks in 23 districts have so far
been affected due to the floods, the SRC said, adding around 26 small breaches
took places causing inundation of vast areas.
Around
1.11 lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas to safe places and
about 240 kitchens were now operating to provide them free cooked food.
As many
as 2,41,658 people were marooned in 398 villages as surging water of Baitarani
and Mahanadi and their tributaries flooded vast areas in Jajpur, Bhadrak,
Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Angul, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts
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