What the cyclone Phailin could not do in Odisha the subsquent floods have done.

The state administration was just congratulating itself at having averted a catastrophe by timely evacuation when repeated low pressure over the coast triggered heavy rainfall and flooded a major part of the state, aggravating misery of the people. The situation remains grim in around 18 districts even though water levels in the main rivers have started receding. As per government figures, at least 59 persons died and about half of Odisha’s 4.10 crore population was affected in the flooding.

The total loss is estimated at around Rs 25,000 crore in all sectors.

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Ganjam district was the worst affected – in both the cyclone and the subsequent floods, with nearly 8,000 people still marooned more than a week after water levels began rising on October 23. The trail of destruction caused by the floods in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts of north Odisha is immeasurable. At some places there is no sign that a house ever existed there. Hunger pangs have been tormenting even those who were considered well off in the belt. People have been wearing the same clothes for weeks.

According to government reports, more than 8 lakh houses have been damaged in 22,000 villages, standing crop on over 8 lakh hectares has been washed away, about 26 lakh trees uprooted and 2,000 live stock perished. Moreover, the poultry sector has been shattered, with 10 lakh birds killed and most farms wiped out.

State relief commissioner PK Mohapatra said all deaths were due to wall collapse and drowning. Major rivers like Rushikuliya, Godahada and Vansadhara were flowing below the danger mark now, he added. Mohapatra informed that two of the three helicopters which were being used for rescue operations in Ganjam district would return to base with the remaining one to be retained for relief operations. The relief teams have been approaching the inundated areas by boats with relief materials.

Mohapatra said 5.32 lakh people in 2,276 villages have been affected by floods, while 1.47 lakh people have been evacuated. Of the 129 villages inundated in Ganjam district by flash flood, water has receded in 69 villages.

In a massive exercise, the state government has evacuated about 11 lakh people. However, over 2000 people in Mayurbhanj district are still in relief camps. Revenue and disaster management minister Surya Narayan Patro, who visited the flood-affected districts, said 156 gram panchayats and 22 blocks of Ganjam district have been affected. “The flood followed cyclone Phailin has damaged the urban as well as rural infrastructure,” he said. He said continuous rain for six days compounded the miseries of the people and continued in Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik said rains and floods have caused severe damage to public and private property and also to standing crop. He announced that three-day relief for the affected people as per the provisions under Relief Code would be distributed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts. Patnaik also declared that old-age pension holders under all schemes in affected districts would be given one month's additional pension of Rs 300 in November. About 21 lakh pensioners, who are old, differently abled, widows and destitute will be benefited.

Despite a 12-member central inter-ministerial team assessing the situation in the affected areas the union home ministry has asked the state government to justify the demand for an additional Rs 1,590.90 crore by the state government. The central team, led by Rashmi Goel, joint secretary, union home ministry, which returned to New Delhi on October 30, is expected to submit its report shortly. The team had divided itself into two groups and visited the most affected districts of Ganjam, Puri, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

Earlier, the government had submitted a memorandum seeking Rs 4,242.41 crore in aid to union home secretary Anil Goswami during his visit to the state. Meanwhile, the Centre is seeking further clarification on the Odisha government’s demand for more financial assistance. Special relief commissioner PK Mohapatra had submitted an interim memorandum to the central team.

The government has sought Rs 10 crore for clearing of debris in public areas. To do this, the MHA has said there is no justification or detail provided in support of the demand. So was the case with Rs 20 lakh sought for disposing carcasses from the cyclone-affected areas. On assistance on agriculture input where crop loss is over 50 per cent, the Centre stated that it should be restricted to only small and marginal farmers and not the entire area.

The union government has asked the Odisha government to furnish its budgetary provision for repair of roads, bridges, water supply sources, repair of canal and river embankments, drainage canal, minor and lift irrigation projects and bore wells.