Bhubaneswar: The flood situation in eastern state Odisha continued to remain grim with the death toll reaching 45 on Sunday.
A release issued by the state Relief Commissioner's Office on Sunday said despite recession of water, flood situation still remained grim in the delta zone of Mahanadi river system.
Although the flood situation improved in most districts with the water level in all the rivers falling below the danger level, nearly half a million people of about 460 villages were still marooned, it said.
The flood water in the inundated areas is not being drained out to the Bay of Bengal due to full moon on Sunday, the release said.
It further said the rains, which started on last Friday are continuing and thus, adding more problems to the flood-affected people of the state.
Different parts of the state, mainly northern region, have been lashed by rainfall of low intensity since last night.
A total of 603 boats have been deployed for relief and rescue operation. 168 free kitchens have been opened for providing food to the affected people. More than a million flood victims continue to live in 168 relief camps as their houses were either damaged or remain inundated. The floods have damaged about 30,000 houses. The number of livestock killed in the floods stands at 97 while crops have been damaged over 3.2 million hectares.
Meanwhile, the MET office at Bhubaneswar has predicted rain and thundershower at most places over north Odisha and a few places over southern parts of the state during next 24 hours under the influence of low pressure.
