Floods in Mahanadi river system triggered by heavy rains following a low pressure has claimed 17 lives affecting over 14 lakh populations in 20 districts in Odisha.
Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said the flood situation has improved and is under control as all three major rivers such as Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Baitanari which were in spate, are now flowing below the danger level.
He said the government has deployed 14 NDRF, 17 ODRAF and 22 fire services teams for search and rescue operations in the flood affected areas.
As many as 2,65,723 people in 340 villages were marooned on August 30 after floods in Mahanadi, Brahamani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Ksharsutra and Jalaka river.
SRC sources said 14,32,701 people in 21 urban local bodies and 3256 villages in 112 blocks were affected due to floods in 20 districts.
The flood situation has improved after water level in all rivers except Mahanadi river system has started receding.
Jena said around 10 lakh cusecs of water is passing through Munduli and likely to cause flood in Puri , Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.
He said nearly 7.60 lakhs cusecs of water is being released through 46 sluice gates of Hirakud dam and the water inflow to the Hirakud dam has been reduced as there has been no rain on the upper catchment areas of Hirakud dam.
