National news

17th august 2022

Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, assessed the flood situation in the state on Tuesday and ordered the authorities to ensure that there would be no flood-related deaths and that normal life would not be disrupted. He spoke “Due to the ongoing rainfall, flooding is a risk in 10 districts along the Mahanadi river basin. He thus counselled the Collectors of these 10 districts to exercise caution and take various precautions in order to avoid the flood disaster.”

Patnaik ordered officials to evacuate residents of risk-prone areas as soon as possible and to give them access to the basic facilities and aid they require.

Additionally, he sent orders for the state’s relevant departments to support the districts right now. In various danger-prone areas, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to maintain the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and fire service units on alert and to conduct rescue operations as needed.

Additionally, Patnaik requested that communication hiccups be kept to a minimum and gave the go-ahead for life-sustaining institutions including hospitals, water supply, and power systems to continue operating as usual. Health Department should make special arrangements to provide health services to the people in the affected areas. Panchayati raj and the Drinking Water Department should make provisions for clean drinking water in rural areas.

Additionally, he urged that the Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources should offer the support required for wildlife protection. 

The Odisha government reports that 44 fire service units, nine ODRAF teams, nine NDRF teams, and teams in seven districts have all been placed on notice.