Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 11 people in Orissa over past two days, officials said Tuesday as the state government announced compensation for the families of seven of them.
"As per the information reaching here, 11 people have died in rain-related mishaps including seven deaths in the district of Nayagarh," Balaram Singh, officer on special duty in the state control room, told IANS.
Singh said three rain-related deaths were reported from Keonjhar district and one from Koraput district.
"Most of them died of drowning," he said.
In Nayagarh district, seven people were travelling in a private bus which fell into a stream after being swept away by flood waters Monday evening, an official said.
The bus, carrying some 40 people, was swept away while travelling over a Besalia streamlet near Madhykhand on the Bhubaneswar-Nayagarh road, he said.
The state government announced compensation of Rs.100,000 to the next kin of those who were killed in the bus tragedy.
"Compensation of Rs.1 lakh would be given to the next kin of those who were killed in the accident. The medical expenses of those who were injured would be borne by the state government," said Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patra.
{{/usCountry}}"Compensation of Rs.1 lakh would be given to the next kin of those who were killed in the accident. The medical expenses of those who were injured would be borne by the state government," said Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patra.
{{/usCountry}}The state government has also directed the police to file criminal cases against the driver and the owner of the bus.
According to district officials, all the remaining passengers of the bus have been rescued.
Many parts of the state were witnessing heavy to moderate rains over past seven days.
The weather office here said the amount of rainfall the state received by Monday was only eight percent less than what is expected for the whole of a normal monsoon.
"At present water levels in most rivers are below danger levels but they may go up if we receive more rain in next two-three days," an official of the state flood control room said.