Bhubaneswar, Aug 30: The Orissa government today requisitioned the assistance of the Army as a serious flood in the Mahanadi River system threatened the thickly populated coastal plains. Two deaths were reported in cuttack district where Banki and Athagarh sub-divisions were already affected as Rivers Sapua and Kantia played havoc, official sources said. While one person was swept away in the swirling waters of Sapua in Bentapada village today, another marooned villager died of snake bite at ichhapur yesterday, the sources said.
Four columns of army have already left Ranchi and were expected to arrive here by today morning. They would be deployed for rescue and relief operations. Services of naval divers had also been requisitioned. The administration was on a high alert in the districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur and Puri which are expected to be affected by the floods.
The flood has been triggered by heavy rains in three western districts. Bureau Report