Water recedes, not misery

CUTTACK: After spending sleepless nights for four days, V Sriramlu and his family heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday. The rainwater, which gushed into their house at Patapol during the incessant rain, receded.
"It was a horrific experience. Waterlogging is nothing new to our area but this time the condition was really deplorable. The entire house was submerged in knee-deep water and snakes and frogs had made their way into our house," said Sriramlu, who owns a fruit shop."We have been staying in the area for last 10 years but never ever witnessed such a precarious situation," he added.
Rainwater receded gradually in many parts of the city but miseries of residents have not. The filth and garbage-filled localities have raised hygiene concern among people.
In many low-lying areas, people are facing shortage of safe drinking water. Wells and tubewells in the waterlogged areas are badly affected and residents in many areas have demanded supply of clean drinking water from Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).
"We are facing acute shortage of drinking water as the tubewell in our area has turned non-functional due to water stagnation. The CMC should take immediate steps to solve our problems," said a resident of Meria Bazaar.
"Drain water had entered into our house. Even after cleaning the house thrice with phenyl and disinfectants there is no respite from the foul smell," said Snehalata Das, a resident of Professor Para. Doctors said outbreak of water-borne diseases looms large in the affected areas. There is an immediate need to take up massive cleanliness drive in the city, they said.
CMC's health officer P K Pradhan claimed the cleaning work has started. Wards are being cleaned and bleaching powder is applied in affected areas. But clearing the muck-filled roads and localities will take some time, said Pradhan. He added that there are over 900 wells and over 2,500 tubewells and measures are being taken to disinfect them.
"We are also distributing Halogen and chlorine tablets among residents of affected areas," added Pradhan.