Odisha’s relief operations on war footing in flooded areas: Official

Bhubaneswar, July 19 (IANS) The Odisha government has taken up relief operations on a war footing in flood-ravaged areas of the state while naval helicopters have been requisitioned for air-dropping of food packets in affected areas, an official said on Wednesday.

Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupad Sethi said several teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Central Reserve Police Force and fire brigade personnel have been engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Besides, he said, Coast Guard's Dorniers dropped food packets and other relief material in flooded areas.

Over 67,000 people have been affected in floods in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. Besides, seven blocks in Nabarangpur district are affected.

Relief camps have been set up in many schools while free kitchens are being set up to provide food to rescued/evacuated persons. Several damaged roads have since been repaired, said Sethi.

Rail traffic between Rayagada and Theruvali has been restored with some restrictions.

"Work on bridge pillars en route is still continuing. Hundreds of labourers and dozens of machines are on the job. A large number of trains were either cancelled or diverted," said an official of the East Coast Railway.

The official said some trains may remain cancelled for some time while some others may be run on diverted routes.

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