Post News Network
Jajpur, August 3: Even as the flood in river Baitarani and its distributaries has passed over bringing respite to flood-hit residents in four blocks of Jajpur district, the administration allegedly failed to reach out to the people at the time of distress.
The apathy of the district administration has increased the plight of flood victims who await assistance.
Sources said torrential rainfall for a couple of days in the upper catchment area of river Baitarani resulted in high flood in the river as well as its distributaries affecting 1,07,317 residents in 219 villages of 57 panchayats in four blocks -Korei, Jajpur, Dasarathpur and Binjharpur. Floodwater entered houses due to breaches at two places of the river embankment. More than 664 houses were affected.
The floodwater also submerged over 17, 918 hectare farmlands in these blocks resulting in loss of livelihood, paddy crops over 15,967 hectare and non-paddy crops over 1,951 hectare. Fearful villagers fled their homes and took shelter in nearby school and college buildings.
The administration claimed that four medical teams and seven medical relief centres are pressed into service but many of the flood-affected are yet to get any medical help.
Many of the flood-hit people are still living in hunger and are crying for food, clothes and tarpaulins.
Bharat Chandra Mallick of Nuasasan village under Dasarathpur block is a case in point. His house is still affected by floodwater pushing him and his family members to stay at a higher place under the cover of tarpaulin. No public representative has reached him to provide relief. Similar is the case with Srinivas Rout, Parameshwar Rout, Chhabindra Mallick Basudev Rout in Duduraanta panchayat and Batakrushna Jena, Upendra Rout and Rakhyakar Barik in Akhuasahi village.
It is alleged that the administration did not take precaution before flood and that it has failed to open relief centre and provide even dry food to the affected.
Sub-collector Maheshwar Panigrahi rejected the allegations saying steps will be taken after visiting affected villages.