KENDRAPARA: Several youths stood for hours in knee-deep floodwater at flood-hit Manapur under Kendrapara’s Aul block to protest the alleged apathy of officials.
The protesters alleged that authorities had failed to provide adequate relief materials, polythene sheets, drinking water and medicines to several flood-affected villages. “Taking a cue from youth protests in several parts of the country, we decided to protest against the inaction by officials towards people in the flood-hit areas,” said 26-year-old Sarat Biswal.
Another protester, Rangabalava Sahoo (26) of Kanapur village under Rajkanika block, said their three-room thatched house was washed away by swirling floodwater on Thursday night after the river breached its embankment near his house. “We are homeless now. Our houses have been destroyed. The government has given us only 1 kg of flattened rice,” he said.
The protesters demanded permanent measures to tackle recurring floods, including the construction of stone-packed river embankments and dredging of riverbeds.
Another protester, Bichitrinanda Behera (27) of Gobindapur under Rajkanika block, said the youths braved crocodiles and snakes while standing in the floodwater for four hours to draw the attention of the district administration. He said they would soon organise a larger meeting at Kendrapara.
In Kendrapara district, over 2.47 lakh people in 164 villages under 67 gram panchayats have been affected by the floods. The flood situation worsened further on Friday after a 100-foot breach occurred in the Baitarani river near Kanapur village, cutting off Lahuni, Pegarapada, Kaima, Manapur, Kanapur and other riverside villages from the mainland.
Collector Raghuram R Iyer said the administration was making all efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation to flood victims. Cooked food was being served at 44 relief centres, while 12 medical teams were visiting flood-hit areas.
The administration had distributed 746.55 quintals of rice, 63.8 quintals of flattened rice and 81 quintals of molasses and sugar in the affected areas, he said.