Bhubaneswar: Floodwaters have started receding in Odisha and are likely to completely withdraw from the affected areas within the next two days, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Saturday after conducting an aerial survey of some of the worst-hit districts.He said officials have been directed to complete damage assessment within three days of the floodwaters receding. Relief packages for losses to houses and agriculture will be announced immediately based on the assessment reports. “The situation is gradually improving, though many villages remain marooned,” Majhi told reporters after the survey.He said Rs 26 crore has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund for relief and rescue operations. Affected families are being provided dry and cooked food, drinking water, medicines and polythene sheets through relief camps and shelter centres.Majhi said instructions have also been issued for immediate repair of damaged roads and infrastructure. The administration has been asked to maintain strict vigil to prevent any post-flood health crisis.Claiming that timely warnings and preventive measures helped minimise damage, the chief minister said the govt had prioritised a “zero casualty” approach during the floods. According to official estimates, around 8 lakh people have been affected by the floods, while 2.69 lakh people were evacuated to safer places.As part of the aerial survey, Majhi reviewed the situation in Dasharathpur, Bari and Binjharpur blocks of Jajpur district; Dhamnagar, Bhandaripokhari and Chandabali in Bhadrak; Soro, Remuna and Balasore Sadar in Balasore district; Badasahi, Udala and Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj; and parts of Hatadihi block in Kendrapada district. Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari and the special relief commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil accompanied him.The chief minister said he is closely monitoring the situation and has directed ministers and officials to take all necessary measures for relief and restoration. He added that authorities are also keeping a close watch on flood conditions in Puri district.Altogether 17 ODRAF teams, seven NDRF teams and 129 fire and emergency service units have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. About 700 shelter centres and relief camps have been set up to provide food, drinking water, accommodation and medical assistance to affected residents.Meanwhile, engineer-in-chief Dilip Kumar Rout said there is no immediate flood threat from the Mahanadi river system unless fresh rainfall takes place in the upper catchment areas. He said inflows into Hirakud reservoir had reduced significantly.
