New Delhi (Agency): The devastating floods in Odisha have left people in a severe drinking water crisis, with some forced to resort to boiling floodwater for consumption. The fear of water-borne diseases associated with consuming such water is high amongst the affected communities.
Despite the government’s efforts to supply water to flood-stricken areas via tankers, many reported that these vehicles are unable to reach them due to waterlogged roads. While the water levels in main rivers have dropped, the flood continues to expand its reach, with 75 additional villages falling victim to the deluge.
The floods have impacted over 6.24 lakh people across 11 districts, as reported on Sunday. People have sought refuge in nearby schools, which are currently surrounded by floodwaters.
Kalandi Barik, a 68-year-old resident of Santhapada village in Kendrapara district, detailed their plight: “My house and tube wells in our area remain submerged in floodwaters. We do not have access to potable drinking water. We are boiling floodwater and drinking it.”
The predicament is similar for many others in the Manahandi delta region, encompassing Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Khurda districts. Ganeswar Behera, a senior Congress leader who has visited several flooded areas, stated that the lack of drinking water was one of the most significant problems faced by the affected residents.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Department has been instructed to supply medicines to the flood-affected people. Kendrapara District Sub Collector Niranjan Behera added that water tankers were being dispatched to the flooded areas.
However, with these areas surrounded by floodwaters, the tankers struggle to reach those in need. According to the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office, the number of flooded villages increased to 1,973 on Sunday. In contrast, the count of flooded urban areas remained at 26.
The SRC’s office reported that the number of people affected by the deluge has risen from 5.73 lakh on Saturday to 6.24 lakh on Sunday. To aid the displaced people, the government opened seven additional free kitchens, providing food for 912 more people who were evacuated since Saturday.
The authorities at Hirakud Dam have discharged excess water downstream of Mahanadi by opening 20 sluice gates, but the water level at the dam remains at 621 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet. Engineer-in-chief of the Water Resources Department, Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty, assured: “As the volume of inflow of water has reduced, we hope to maintain our target level. Therefore, the flood situation is stable and there is no threat for the next three days.” Nonetheless, around 3 lakh cusecs of water continue to flow at Mundali near Cuttack.
