Paperman Media ( Bhubaneswar )- The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Saturday launched a mega relief programme to support people affected by the recent floods in several districts of the state.
OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das, Odisha Congress in-charge Lalji Desai, co-in-charge Jetti Kusum Kumar and Relief Committee chairman and MLA Ashok Das flagged off trucks carrying food packets at Congress Bhawan here.
Speaking to the media, Das said severe rainfall had triggered floods in the Baitarani and Mahanadi rivers, affecting large areas of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Banki in Cuttack district. Thousands of acres of farmland were submerged, while hundreds of villages were surrounded by floodwater, forcing many residents to take shelter in schools and under trees.
He said the Congress had immediately constituted a flood assessment and relief committee under the leadership of Ashok Das to assess the situation in affected areas.
As part of the relief initiative, flood victims will be provided with flattened rice (chuda), jaggery, biscuits and tarpaulins. Relief materials will start reaching the affected districts from Sunday.
Das appealed to Congress leaders and workers to extend generous support to the relief programme, stressing that the party stands with people during times of distress.
Several senior Congress leaders and workers attended the launch programme.
