23,000 food packets air dropped in flood-hit Orissa: Government

The government has air dropped more than 23,000 food packets for flood-affected people in 10 districts of Orissa where 542 relief camps have been set up to accomodate 1,73,000 people.

So far 27 people lost their lives in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Angul, Dhenkanal and Deogarh districts due to floods in the rivers Boodabalang, Suwarnrekha, Brahmani and Batrani, a Home Ministry official said.

"542 relief camps have been set up where 1,73,337 people have been accommodated. Besides, 23,509 food packets -- each packet of 5 kg consisting of flattened rice, jaggery, biscuits, candles, matchbox, halogen tablets, ORS packets and salt -- have been dropped," the official said.

Rescue and relief operations are continuing in the flood affected areas. 13 teams of National Disaster Response Force with 393 men and 78 boats are carrying out rescue and relief operations.

NDRF has rescued or evacuated 3,834 persons till date, the official said. Four MI-17 helicopters were deployed for air dropping of food packets and rescue operations.

The water level in the flood affected areas of Jajpur has receded by two feet, while in Kendrapada the water level is steady and in Bhadrak only 2 blocks are flooded.