Water level in all rivers receding, says Odisha SRC

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Aug 9, 2014 at 1:09 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9:

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The water level in all rivers in Odisha is receding, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra said today.

Briefing newsmen on the flood situation in the state, the SRC said a total of 532 villages and a population of 3, 60,000 are marooned.

Mohapatra said while 1, 35,000 people have taken shelter on river embankments, there have been 38 breaches in river embankments so far.

There has been no increase in the death toll since Friday, which remained at 37, he added.

Mohapatra said rains which have started since Friday and are continuing have added to the problems of the affected people, particularly those taking shelter on the embankments.

Speaking on the discharge from Hirakud reservoir, he said only 24 sluice gates are kept open at present. This state would continue for the next few years to leave some space to accommodate more inflow caused due to rains upstream, the SRC added.