The only solace to the distressed was the falling water level of the swollen rivers.
As the water level in Hirakud dam on Mahanadi near Sambalpur in Western Orissa stood at 628.52 feet against its full capacity of 630 feet, the authorities closed a large number of sluices that had been opened to drain out excess water from the reservoir.
Though steps were taken to accelerate relief operations through air dropping of food packets and essential items in Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, a large number of flood victims still remained deprived of help in the absence of adequate personnel and boats.
Image: A man carries a child at flooded Balianta village near Bhubaneswar.
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