In Odisha, 19 of the 30 districts have been affected in flood. The flood situation is likely to worsen further as 13.33 lakh cusec water is passing through Munduli barrage near Cuttack in the Mahanadi river system. Over 60,723 persons have been evacuated from low lying areas to safer places.However, due to reduced amount of rainfall in upper catchments of Mahanadi river, inflow to the Hirakud reservoir has come down to 9.94 lakh cusec and 9.81 lakh cusec water is being discharged from the reservoir through 59 sluice gates. Helicopter services from Indian Navy and other sources have been called for relief and rescue operation to thousands of marooned people. Flood situation in Odisha continues to be grim as thousands of people are marooned in low lying areas of flood-affected districts. So far, 2,550 villages of 85 blocks and 13 urban local bodies in 19 districts of the state have been affected in the flood.Eight persons have lost their lives in the flood, while their people have been swept away in flood water. A number of breaches have occurred at many places, while 10,565 dwelling houses have been damaged. The state government hopes the grim flood situation to continue for the next two days. It has directed district collectors to provide emergent food assistance for seven days in the affected and marooned areas.All the schools and colleges in the marooned areas have been asked to close down till improvement in the flood situation. The schools premises will be utilised as safe shelter for the affected people and for storing relief materials. Dry foods and disaster mitigation teams have been sent to different marooned areas. The state government has sought more helicopters from the Centre to expedite the flood relief operation