New Delhi, Sept 25 : Keeping in view the continuing incidents of violence against the members of a minority community in Kandhamal District of Orissa, the Central Government has asked the Orissa Government to take effective, focused and firm measures to stop the violence and restore peace and normalcy in the State.

In a communication sent by the Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta today, the Centre has asked the State Government to take measures including identification and apprehension of the elements who continue to stoke communal violence and hatred and indulge in disruptive activities.

Bhubaneswar, Sept 25 : In the wake of 43 new breaches on embankments in Mahanadi delta region in Orissa, flood situation worsened on Thursday with more areas submerged in floodwaters.

The Flood Control Cell in Bhubaneswar said: "Fresh areas are inundated as the number of breaches in Mahanadi system, which stood at 100 till yesterday, rose to 143 today."

Kandhamal (Orissa), Sept 25 : Curfew was clamped in nine sensitive areas of Orissa''s Kandhamal district today in the wake of fresh violence in the region.

Nearly 100 houses and a couple of churches and prayer houses were either set afire or damaged in about half-a-dozen places under Daringibadi, G Udaygiri and Tikabali police stations around dawn break.

At least 42 companies of security forces including CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed since violence broke out after the recent killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.

Though additional forces were rushed to several sensitive areas to control the situation, movement of security personnel was badly affected due to obstructions on roads placed by miscreants.

Pipli (Orissa)/Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Sept 24 : Flood-situation in Orissa remained grim with hundreds of thousands of people still stranded in villages with no food and water.

Despite falling water level in rivers including the Mahanadi, surging waters from over 100 breaches continued to submerge fresh areas in coastal areas of the State.

Inundation of more areas in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts worsened the plight of the marooned villagers in Mahanadi delta region with relief teams still finding it tough to reach many inaccessible pockets.

Around 16 villages in Pipli District of the State continued to grapple with floods, which have wreaked havoc in the state for the past few days.

New Delhi, Sept 23 : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil undertook an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Orissa to day.

Union minister Chandra Shekhar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition J B Patnaik, state Congress president Jaydev Jena and senior Home ministry officials accompanied Patil.

Patil also held a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and discussed the latest flood situation.

Boudh (Orissa), Sept 23 : Flood situation in Orissa remained grim on Tuesday following heavy rains in the catchment area of Mahanadi River.

Large parts of the state were inundated after authorities were forced to open dozens of sluice gates of the Hirakud dam on the Mahanadi River.

The Mahanadi breached its banks at several places and floodwaters had swept away highways in some areas.

In Boudh District of Orissa, many villages like Kutasingha, Panimora, Kaleswar, Kumari, Bankapudi remained marooned today.