Post-relief operation begins

JAJPUR: The State Government airdropped food and relief materials in the worst-hit Bari block of the district, for the third consecutive day on Thursday.“There has been a slight improvement in the flood situation. We have started post-relief operation since the affected people have lost their houses and belongings to the flood,” said Arvind Padhee, senior bureaucrat in-charge of relief and rescue in Jajpur. While the Brahmani and the Kharasrota rivers have started receding, flood water is yet to be discharged from the 98 marooned villages under 29 gram panchayats. Non-availability of food, potable water and medicines has compounded the woes of the flood-hit perched on roof-tops. The flood has claimed another life taking the toll to nine in the district. As many as 33 breaches were reported in the fresh spell of flood, officials said. Padhee maintained that flood water has started receding from the marooned areas facilitating ferrying of relief to the affected people. Medical teams have been sent to flood-hit areas to undertake sanitation activities, he said. Each affected village will get ` 1,000 to improve sanitation, he added. Meanwhile, road link between Bari and Baruan was restored on Thursday.