In Odisha, at least 16 people have died due to the devastating flood in 19 of the 30 districts. About 14 lakh people and 3,000 villages have been affected in the current flood. More and more areas are likely to be gripped in the downstream coastal pockets as the heavy flood water released from Hirakud dam is yet to reach lower catchment area of Mahanadi and its tributaries.More than 97,000 persons have been evacuted from low lying areas to safer places. Three helicopters have been pressed into relief and rescue operation efforts. Our correspondent reports, that, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an aerial survey of some of the marooned areas and reviewed the situation at Bhubaneswar at a high-level meeting.