Evacuation drive launched in north Odisha as floods hit after cyclone

The Odisha government has launched an evacuation drive in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts due to flooding in some areas and risk of more localities getting inundated owing to rise in water level in Budhabalang River caused by heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Dana, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said. He said 20 villages under six gram panchayats of Remuna and Balasore Sadar blocks in Balasore district have already been affected by floods. "The evacuation drive is underway on a war footing," he said, while briefing media about the post-cyclone situation. Stating that the flood situation was created in Budhabalang River due to heavy rain in Similipal Hills in Mayurbhanj district owing to the cyclone, Majhi said residents were being moved to safer locations and provided with hygienic cooked food at shelters. So far, 10,500 people 2,500 from Remuna and 8,000 from Balasore Sadar -- have been evacuated to safety, the CM said. Meanwhile, officials in the Water Resources Department s