Khurda: As many as 30,000 people from 14 villages in Khurda block in this district have been marooned in four feet deep floodwater for last couple of days owing to incessant rains.
While ten of these villages come under Orabarsingh panchayat, another four fall under Narangarh panchayat. Floodwater has entered houses in Hirimula, Dihakhala, Durgapur, Orabarasingh, Mashania,Tentulimula, Raypur, Balikuda, Lekhanpur, Krushnapur villages of Orabarasingh panchayat and Dhabalpur, Manpur, Orimi and Balapur villages of Naranagarh panchayat making life of the residents difficult.
People here have been crossing the village roads using rubber tubes.
These affected people alleged of administrative apathy in relief and rescue works. They said the Red Cross had distributed only 550 relief food packets which fell short of the demand. Out of those 550 packets, Narangarh panchayat received 150 packets and Orabarasingh panchayat got only 44 packets.
The villagers further alleged that these packets were distributed among those who have taken shelter at cyclone shelters. But those who are still marooned in their houses have been deprived of any kind of relief material.
During the last such flood situation, most of the affected villagers had been deprived of cooked food. Post Phani cyclone, most of the affected villagers who lost their houses to the cyclone have not been given any financial help meant to repair their damaged houses.
Some of the villagers ascribed their woes to village politics.
There are only two boats here as against the requirement of five ones in this flood affected area. While Hirimul and Dihakhala villages each have a boat, villages such as Dhabalpur, Manpur and Orimi each require a boat to carry out necessary relief and rescue operations.
Among the worst affected are the livestock. These animals have been hungry for last four days, the villagers rued. The administration seems to have forgotten to distribute cattle feed. Though it is not safe to keep the animals tied, we are left with no choice, some of the villagers said.
The affected villagers of Narangarh panchayat Wednesday met the collector to register their grievances following which Khurda block development officer (BDO) visited some of the affected villages to take stock of the situation. However, affected villagers of Orabarsingh panchayat expressed their dissatisfaction as the BDO did not visit their area.
PNN