Bhubaneswar: Titli has left Gajapati district virtually cut off from the rest of the state with the cyclonic storm causing severe disruption in road communication and telecommunication across all the blocks. Power supply has also been disrupted.
Briefing media persons here Thursday morning after a review meeting by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chief Secretary A P Padhi said the government was expecting Ganjam district to be more affected, but it was Gajapati which bore the brunt.
Padhi said the district received over 200 mm of rainfall. Heavy rainfall was still continuing with wind speeds recorded at over 100 kmph. He said two more teams of the NDRF were being sent to the district to add to the one already there.
He also said there was a flood like situation in the Vansadhara river system in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.
Padhi said the Chief Minister had directed that the situation be restored as soon as possible. Relief like cooked food was being distributed at the shelters.
While 123 pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals in Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts, overall around 3 lakh people have been evacuated from the coastal areas and were being put up in 1112 centres.
WATER RELEASED
Water Resources department Secretary PK Jena informed that he has been keeping a close watch on the situation in Gajapati district as rainfall was still continuing there.
He also informed that some amount of water has been released from two reservoirs in the district. “We are yet to decide any release of water from other reservoirs as they are very much in the safe zone,” he informed.
In case of Vansadhara river, we are in touch with Andhra Pradesh for immediate release of water from Gotta Barage as and when situation demands, he informed.
PNN
