Odisha urges Kerala govt to ensure help to 337 Odias

Odisha urged the Kerala government on Monday to provide help to 337 Odias stranded at different flood-ravaged places of the southern state, officials said.

The Odisha Labour Department rushed two officials to Kerala during the day to ensure the safety of Odia labourers, they said.

Meanwhile, a special train carrying people from Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh left Kochuveli (Thiruvananthapuram) station today and is expected to reach Bhubaneswar on August 22, an East Coast Railway (ECoR) official said.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department of the Odisha government wrote to the Kerala relief commissioner to provide assistance to the 337 Odias there, the officials said.

"It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangements for providing support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," said Shyamal Kumar Das, an officer of the department.

The letter was sent after the state government received calls for help from the flood-affected people, they said.

The Odisha government has set up a 24-hour helpline at the special relief commissioner's (SRC) office to coordinate with the affected people in Kerala.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the day directed the Commerce and Transport Department to arrange for running special trains for Kerala flood victims, officials said.

A similar direction was given by Patnaik to the SRC yesterday.

State Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy said he has received information that 22 self-help group members have been stranded in Kerala floods. The SHG members had gone to Kerala to participate in a fair.

Earlier in the day, the IAS Officers Association and the IPS Association in the state announced to contribute at least one day salary of its members to the Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help the flood-affected people.

Patnaik had earlier announced financial assistance of Rs 10 crore and ordered polythene sheets worth Rs 8 crore be sent to Kerala.