Fresh relief for 7 days

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Friday announced seven days relief for all the affected areas in the second wave of flood which has submerged more than 800 villages. There will be also air-dropping of food packets in the marooned villages from Saturday.  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting here. Because of the incessant rains for the last two days rising waters of the Bramhani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha have submerged large tracts in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts.   The situation in Jajpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts, which were hit by the first-phase flood in the Mahanadi river system, is grim. Three senior officials have been stationed in Jajpur, Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts to monitor the relief and rescue operations.  Vast stretches of national highways connecting Panikoili to Keonjhar, Keonjhar-Jashipur and Kamakhyanagar-Bhuban have been submerged paralysing vehicular movement.  It was decided that relief material and cattle feed will be rushed to the affected areas. Naveen directed the officials to open free kitchens wherever necessary. He asked the Health Department to engage more mobile health centres. Besides, steps are also being initiated to provide drinking water to the people in affected areas.  It has been decided that the State Government will request the Centre to make helicopters available for air-dropping of food packets. The helicopters, available in air-dropping in the first-phase flood, have been diverted to earthquake-hit Sikkim for relief and rescue operations.  Air-dropping will be started from Saturday with the helicopter meant for anti-Maoist operation. Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro, Development Commissioner RN Senapati and secretaries of different departments were present.