Bodies of three students retrieved

BHADRAK: With flood water in the Baitarini and its tributaries receding, woes of people are coming to the fore.The death roll in the flood rose to nine with the recovery of four bodies, including that of three students from the Baitarini and its tributary Reba on Tuesday. Four persons are still missing. The students have been identified as Ramakanta Pallai (14), Lakshmidhar Palai (13) and Badal Jena (17), all belonging to Anderai village under Bhadrak (Rural) police  limits. Sources in the district emergency office said the students were swept away by flood water in the Reba while they were crossing it at Anderai village, 25 km from Bhadrak town. While their bodies were recovered by the villagers, another body was recovered at Bahrapal village under Tihidi block.As many as 54 villages in Tihidi, Chandbali and Dhamnagar blocks are still marooned and the relief team is yet to reach the affected.The district administration in its report to the State Government said 3.51 lakh people in 341 villages have been affected in the recent flood. While 1.90 lakh domestic animals have been affected, 42,000 hectares of paddy field submerged.The report stated that 16,680 quintal rice and 1,624 quintal flattened rice had been distributed. Around a lakh people have been provided with cooked food through 62 free kitchens and 34 boats deployed for  rescue and relief operations. However, protesting lack of relief measures, irate people of Kothar Malikasahi, Patiri Sahi and Bankasahi of Dhamngahar block detained the Sub-Collector for two hours on Tuesday.Sarpanch Raghu Das said local youths had rescued 25 families while the district administration did not reach despite repeated requests. Similarly, Chandabali MLA Bijay Nayak was gheraoed by the flood victims for inadequate relief.Meanwhile, several roads including Bhadrak-Chandabali and Bhadrak-Aradi had been cut off with flood water flowing above the roads. Electricity supply and telecommunication were also disrupted. Flood water has also entered the Baba Akhandalamani Shiva temple.