New Delhi, Sept 23 : Five comprehensive diving teams with all technical support elements from the Eastern Naval Command have been pressed into action for rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas along the Mahanadi River in Orissa.

The diving teams along with inflatable rubberized boats with out board motors, rescue equipment and medical supplies left for Bhubaneswar on Monday.

They will join two teams of INS Chilka which is already deployed in the affected areas, in assisting the special relief commissioner.

Due to the fear of serious flood, hundreds of families have started for the highway in Kendrapara.

Due to the heavy floods in new areas in the coastal district, people had to move away from homes. The water breaches in the river embankments have increased with a shocking speed.

Local people reported, “The water around our village has been rising too fast and that's why we decided to get out.”

Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will arrive in Orissa today to take stock of the situation in the flood-hit areas of the state.

During his visit, he will hold a meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss the flood situation.

The Union Home Minister will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts including Puri, Cuttak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Jajpur.

New Delhi, Sept 22 : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will be visiting Oris

Bhubaneswar, Sept 22 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday undertook an aerial survey of the flood affected regions of his state to assess the impact of the calamity that has claimed at least 17 lives.

Patnaik did an aerial survey of Cuttack, Nayagarh, Sonepur and Boudh districts of the state.

Speaking to reporters after landing here, he said: “Free kitchen services have been started in the region and clean water is also being made available in the region. Air droppings have been initiated in Cuttack, Kendrapad and Jagatsingh Pur Districts.”

Pipli (Orissa), Sept 22: Around 16 villages in Pipli district of Orissa continued to grapple with floods which have wreaked havoc in the state for the past few days.

Villages have been inundated and people could be seen wading through knee deep water, while many moved away with their belongings to safer places.

"We are living in deplorable conditions. We have not had anything to eat for past three days. We are waiting for some aid from the government but it is not paying any attention to our plight," said Chittanarayan, a local.