In Odisha, deaths due to the current devastating flood have increased to 40. Two more people have been missing and are yet to be traced. Even as major rivers like Brahmani, Budhabalanga, Baitarani, Subarnarekha and Kharasrota have started receeding, the post-flood situation continues to be very grim in the state. Complaints of people starving in the worst-hit Jajpur, Kendrapada and Bhadrak districts even after eight days are being reported. Allegations of air-dropping of dry foods in limited areas are also pouring in. AIR correspondent flood-hit people have been deprived of getting drinking water, medical facilities and other basic amenties.Post flood situation in Odisha is really grim. Hungry marooned people of more than 1500 villages are living sleepless nights on the roof tops or river embankments and waiting for the government relief to reach them. The situation in Bari and Jajpur town in Jajpur district and Aul, Rajkanika, Rajnagar in Kendrapada district are very precarious. No government officials have been able to reach the marooned villages. They are being forced to drink contaminated flood-water and thousands are now suffering with fever, diorreah and other water-borne diseases. Scarcity of infant food is another problem causing much worry to everyone. Road communications to a major number of villages in the flood-hit 10 districts of the state have been cut-off due to flood water and yet to be repaired. A 10-member Central team is visiting different areas of Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapada districts to assess loss due to the current flood.Official reports say, a total of 3,569 villages and 12 cities in 10 of the 30 districts have been affected in the second phase of flood. In the first phase, flood in Mahanadi river system in the second week of this month had affected 3.4 million people in 19 districts, causing 50 human casualty and a loss of Rs 2,122 crore to the State.