Flood victims of North Odisha are without food and drinking water for the last three days. They alleged that no Government official has visited them so far.
Around 95 villages in Bhogarai, Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar, Sadar and Remuna blocks of Balasore district have been marooned. With connecting roads remaining inundated, these villagers are unable to come out to arrange food for themselves.
The flood in Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers has in fact exposed lack of preparedness of the district administration to meet eventualities. Even as the officials claimed that they had stocked food grains in the panchayat godowns prior to the calamity so that the materials can be distributed even if the areas are cut off, no such arrangement was done.
A local leader Bidubhusan Das alleged that though there was provision for providing emergency relief for three days in such a situation, the ill-equipped administration has not taken any step.
People alleged that the administration has failed to learn any lesson from the flood last month. This time, flash flood has hit 3,09,043 people in 444 villages of 78 panchayats in these blocks.
Barring 6553 people, who were evacuated from the marooned villages and provided cooked food through 30 free kitchens, the administration has not provided any relief materials to other victims. Though the BDOs have informed the district emergency cell about the affected areas, they have not yet given detailed information about relief operation.
Meanwhile, with all the rivers receding, flood situation in northern parts of the district is likely to improve.
Collector Parameswaran B, Project Director of DRDA, two sub-collectors, DPC of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and other revenue officials visited the flood hit areas. The Collector said block officials have been asked to expedite relief operation.