Bhubaneswar, Sep 10: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday reviewed the damages caused by heavy rains in several districts in Odisha.
Majhi instructed the NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services to intensify relief and rescue operations in the affected areas on a war footing.
Under the impact of deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi district recorded the highest rainfall of 231.4 mm during the past 24 hours.
More than 200 mm of rainfall was also recorded in M. Rampur block of Kalahandi district, as well as Dasmantpur block of the Koraput district.
Besides, one block each in the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Subarnapur received over 100 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.
In order to manage the flood situation, the state government has deployed 30 ODRAF teams across 12 districts, along with 7 Fire Service teams in Malkangiri and NDRF teams in Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Cuttack districts. Two NDRF teams are on standby.
Around 80 rescue boats have been deployed, and the BSF has been mobilized to assist with large-scale evacuations if needed, said sources.
Medical teams and veterinary teams have been deployed in Malkangiri.
The government has also decided to provide free kitchens in Koraput and Malkangiri districts to support the affected people, as the heavy rains have created a flood-like situation.
Meanwhile, the state government has also requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to provide helicopters for emergency operations.
