Odisha requests Kerala to assist Odia people

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Sunday requested the Kerala government to provide necessary support and assistance to Odia people who are trapped in the devastating floods in the rain-battered southern state. 

A list of 187 people of Odisha who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala has been sent along with the letter sent by the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Revenue and Disaster Management Department, S K Das, an official said. 

The letter was sent to the Additional Chief Secretary in the Disaster Management Department of Kerala on the basis of information received by the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office here, the official said.  

"It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing necessary support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," the letter said. 

Earlier on August 17, the Odisha government had requested Kerala to provide assistance to around 130 labourers from the state trapped in Odapally following a distress call by some Odia people in flood-ravaged southern state.