Bhubaneshwar:
The flood situation in Orissa continues to remain grim as over 15 lakh people across eight districts have been hit by a second spell of major floods.
Official sources said nearly 800 villages have been marooned and 6 people have died in the last 48 hours. The overall death count in the last one month has reached 41.
After making an aerial survey of the three worst-hit districts of Jajpur, Keonjhar and Kendrapara districts, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Centre to rush more helicopters for rescue and relief operations.
"I have spoken to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony. We have asked for more choppers for rescue and relief operation", Mr Patnaik said.
The chief minister has also deputed senior officials to supervise operations in the three worst-affected districts where people have been trapped on roof tops as their houses have been submerged by the flood water of the Brahmani and the Baitarani rivers.
Officials fear that the situation could aggravate after heavy rains lashed the upper catchment area.
As hundreds of people remain trapped in the Jajpur district, the state government has sought 100 mechanised boats from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for effective rescue and relief operation. Meanwhile, 250 members of the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) are also engaged in rescue and relief work.
The state government have started air-dropping of food materials while ODRAF has rescued 60 people trapped on roof tops of a house in Mathura village of Jajpur district.
"Supply droppings are going on since yesterday. All steps are being taken by the administration to bring relief to the people", the Chief Minister said on Saturday.
(With PTI inputs)