Bhubaneswar,October 14: Odisha government today decided to deploy additional ODRAF and NDRF teams to assist the ongoing relief and rescue operations in Gajapati district which witnessed extensive damage in the recent flash floods following heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Titli.
After a high-level review meeting, Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi informed that three more teams of ODRAF and two NDRF teams will be sent to flood-affected Gajapati district.
Sethi also directed the Heads of the Departments to visit the flood-affected Gajapati and monitor the restoration work in the area.
It is pertinent to mention here that the very severe cyclonic storm Titli made its landfall at Palasa in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning and triggered incessant rainfall which aggravated flood situation in several parts of Odisha including in Gajapati, Ganjam and Rayagada districts.
“No district in the State has received rainfall in the past 24 hours. The situation is gradually improving, particularly in Ganjam. The situation in Aska and Purushottampur which was marooned after the incessant rain has improved rapidly. Electricity supply in most of the areas has also been restored,” said Sethi.
The flood condition in Rayagada district is also limping back to normalcy. Some of the relief centres in Gunupur have been closed and others are likely to shut down by evening, sources said.
The flood has caused extensive damage to crops and after a detailed assessment, the crop input subsidy will be provided to the affected farmers, Sethi added.
Similarly, the road communication in various parts of Gajapati district, including Mohana and R. Udayagiri has also been restored.
“A relief of Rs 60 per day for adults and Rs 45 per child per day will be given to the people for 15 days in flood-hit areas and the money will be deposited directly into their back accounts,” added Sethi.