Rain spoiled relief and rescue operations in several areas in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Rain continued to pour despair on lakhs of flood-hit people in different parts of Odisha on Sunday, but the weatherman predicted a clearer sky from Monday. 
        The state government said since the weather was clearing up schools and colleges would reopen from Monday. In Ganjam, classes will remain suspended till October 30 but teachers and other staff will attend their duties to make the premises fit for the resumption of studies. 
          In Khurda district, breaches were reported from near Patapur, Manikapur, Achutarajpur and Srinibaspur of Banapur after the Salia Dam overflowed. In Ganjam, river Bagi, a tributary of Bahuda, breached at Digapur in Patrapur, leading to nearby villages getting inundated. Breaches were also reported from Aska, Dharakote, Sorada, Sheragada, Bhanjanagar and Digapahandi blocks. 
"The Rushikulya is flowing above the danger mark at Purusottampur," special relief commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said. "We hope the water level will recede by Monday as the cloud mass due to the low pressure has mostly moved into the Bay of Bengal. We expect there'll be much improvement in weather conditions soon." 
         Rain spoiled relief and rescue operations in several areas, particularly in Ganjam, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts. 
         With the rain gods showing no signs of relenting since the past week, rivers Subarnarekha, Budhabalang in northern Odisha and Rushikulya in the southern district of Ganjam crossed the danger level at some places, sparking fresh apprehensions of flood. 
           Floodwaters from the Budhabalang entered the district headquarters town of Baripada and 50 villages in Mayurbhanj, official sources said. 
           In Ganjam, worst-hit by cyclone Phailin and the subsequent flood, all reservoirs were full and more rain could prove disastrous, said a senior officer. 
           S C Sahu, director of the local meteorological office, said rain could take place till 8.30 am on Monday. "Thereafter, though there could be partly cloudy sky, we aren't predicting rain," he said. 
      Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had to cancel his proposed aerial survey over deluge-ravaged areas in Ganjam, Puri and Khurda because of the inclement weather. 
          On Monday, a central team, led by home ministry joint secretary Rashmi Goel, will visit Odisha to assess the damage caused by cyclone Phailin and the subsequent foods. 
             About 40 lakh people in 13 districts in the state have been affected by the floods, caused by the heavy rain that started on October 21 under the influence of a low pressure over south coastal Andhra Pradesh adjoining west central Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood. 
                The government also revised the death toll in the current round of deluge to 15 after two persons assumed to be dead were found in Ganjam. An estimated four lakh houses have been damaged.