Flood situation improves in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 23 (IANS) The flood situation in Odisha improved Wednesday but dozens of families continue to stay at various relief camps, officials said.

Water levels in all the rivers have come down below the danger level, as there was almost no rain in most part of the state today," the state's deputy relief commissioner P.R. Mohapatra told IANS.

People who were evacuated have started returning to their homes. Some people will however continue to stay at the relief camps until the situation becomes fully normal in their villages, he said.

An official of the state revenue department confirmed the death of a man in Bargarh district, taking the death toll in rain-related incidents within a week to four.

About two lakh people in nine districts have been affected by the floods triggered by heavy rainfall for more than a week.

Gushing waters washed away roads while public transport was disrupted in many places.

The affected districts are Jajpur, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Bhadrak, Sundergarh, Nuapada, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, and Bargarh.

Bhadrak and Jajpur have been worst hit, but the situation is likely to improve as there is no chance of heavy rain during the next three-four days, officials said.