Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday directed the Malkangiri District Collector to depute a special team to supervise relief work in areas inhabited by Bonda tribals, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), as they have been cut off due to flash floods in the Orangi river.
Two women of Khairuput block of the district were washed away in the surging waters of the Orangi river. Besides, people, mostly tribals, have been rendered homeless and infrastructure has been damaged because of the floods.
Naveen announced a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh each for the next of the kin of the two women and asked the Collector to ensure that they get the money on Friday. He said all the roads damaged in the flood should be made ready by evening.
The Chief Minister directed the Collector to expedite relief work and open free kitchens.
Two gram panchayats __ Mudulipada and Andrahal __ inhabited by Bondas, have been cut off from other areas because of landslides after heavy rainfall. Naveen reviewed the situation through video conferencing with collectors of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts affected by the flash floods. He asked the collectors to ensure that diarrhoea does not break out in the flood affected areas.
Reports reaching here said the police on Thursday retrieved body of a woman washed away in the flash flood in the Orangi river. The woman was identified as Malati Goltoda (40) of Orangi village. Four persons were missing, of which two have since returned. Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro said the flash flood was triggered by heavy rains over Mathili and Kudumulugumma blocks during the last two days. He said 100 people from Athalguda village have been shifted to the nearby school building where a free kitchen has been opened.
Incessant rainfall caused havoc in the entire district with several roads being washed away by the flash flood in different places.
Patro said Khairput-Mudulipada road has been damaged as a result of which the Bonda hills have been cut off. Besides, Jeypore-Malkangiri road has been cut off near Gobindpalli. The Collector has been asked to repair the road as early as possible.