Bhubaneswar, Oct 24 Torrential rain continued to lash several parts of Odisha Thursday for the fourth consecutive day, bringing misery for the survivors of Cyclone Phailin in the state, a minister here said.
The rain also disrupted railway and road services, and resulted in waterlogging in several villages and cities.
It also affect rehabilitation work worst-affected by the cyclone and succeeding flooding, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro .
At least 5,000 people, who were exhausted ahead of the cyclone, came back to relief camps in worst-hit Ganjam district as rivers here vainglorious and water entered homes, he said.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Response Force personnel are sent to the affected areas for relief and operation, he said.
The Bansadhara stream and its tributaries have crossed danger levels in the region and the water levels are likely to rise further as significant rain was expected for consequent two-three days,the minister said.
Cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal, that made landfall October 12 night near Gopalpur in the state’s Ganjam district, has left behind a path of destruction in many districts of the state, bringing heavy rain and inflicting floods.
Although only 44 deaths attributable to the cyclone and flooding are recorded, about 1.2 crore individuals in 17 of the state’s 30 districts are suffering from the calamity, the state government said.
According to preliminary government estimates, the injury due to cyclone and consequent floods is pegged at regarding Rs.4,242 crore.
The latest rain and flooding is probably going to delay the restoration and rehabilitation work the govt. was carrying out in disaster-hit areas, Patro said.
