* * * East India Flood *
** * * ** ** ** <http://jharkhand.org.in/blog> <http://worldsikhnews.com/25%20June%202008/Government%20of%20India%20Guilty%20as%20charged.htm> ** <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/contact.htm> <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/members> * *After Bihar Flood, now Orissa Flood* * A Flood warning and high alert has been sounded in several districts of Orissa, as severe floods are set to hit Orissa. With torrential rainfall in the catchment area of Mahanadi River and Hirakud dam crest gates open, the situation could get worse. If the havoc created in Bihar by the Kosi River was not enough, certain districts of Orissa are set to face devastating floods in the days to come. The Bihar floods had seen more than thirty lakh people being affected, displaced or rendered homeless. More than a hundred people lost their lives, whereas hundreds are still reported missing. Just as the flood waters have receded, the threat of epidemics is still looming large. The situation in Orissa is expected to be grim and reminiscent of the floods in the year 2001 which had affected more then fifty lakh people all across the state. The floods in 2001 were said to be the worst floods since independence to have hit the state of Orissa. Meanwhile evacuations have begun so that people in low lying areas can move to some place less dangerous. More than one lakh people have already been evacuated and move to safer grounds. After the devastation caused in the Bihar floods, the state government of Orissa does not want to take any chances. A high alert has been sounded in four coastal district of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Puri. The Hirakud dam built on the Mahanadi river has also been affected and due to the rising water levels l, more than twenty gates of the dam have been opened to allow for the discharge of water. The capacity of the reservoir is 630 feet, and the level has been hovering near that mark and so the crest gates had to be opened. The state of Orissa has not been averse to the destruction caused by the floods. In the year 2001 too a similar situation had been witnessed when the Mahanadi River overflowed and almost 15 lakh cusecs of water passed through the plains. The year 1982 had faced worse floods as almost 16 lakh cusecs of water had flooded the area. The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force has set about evacuation people from the danger prone zones. With the help of power boats, the district administrations have set about their task of rescuing people. An alert has been sounded and people have been advised to carry valuables and food supplies to last them for three days and move to places where they are being advised to. The state government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of the people of Orissa as the Special Relief Commissioner of Orissa N K Sunderray said that 14 lakh cusecs of water has crossed the Naraj bridge in Cuttack, and it is a huge flood. More than ten districts of the state are going to be affected and already it's reported that 16 people have been killed in the torrential rainfalls that have hit the state of Orissa. The situation could get worse and like Bihar, the people could face the dangers of the lack of food, medical supplies and clean drinking water in the future. The state government is doing its best to evacuate people from the flood hit zones and hoping that the flood waters will recede in the next forty eight hours.
