Bhubaneswar: Floods in Orissa claim an
average of 33 lives every year and destroy property worth Rs
322 crore despite better means of rescue at the disposal of
the administration.
Floods in rivers like Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Brahmani,
Baitarani, Vansadhara and Rushikulya during monsoons lead to
loss of lives and property.
"Between 1980 and 2011, altogether 1,043 people have lost
their lives in floods while crops and property worth Rs 10,000
crore were lost in the state during the same period," a senior
official in the special relief commissioner's office said.
At least 83 people were killed while 10 others went
missing in the flood last month although rescuers are now
equipped with helicopters, power boats, satellite phones and
other aides.
The year 1982 saw the highest number of casualties when
126 persons perished in the devastating flood in the Mahanadi
river delta, comprising Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and
Jajpur districts, and river Rushikulya in the southern
districts of the state, records available with the Orissa
State Disaster Management Authority said.
"The livestock casualty is also very high. Since the
state's economy is predominantly agrarian, loss of livestock
due to flood has a significant bearing on its economy," G K
Panda, professor in geography at Utkal University, said.
He was quoting a study report prepared jointly by UNDP,
OSDMA and the university.
PTI
First Published: Monday, October 17, 2011, 12:00