One million stranded by Orissa flood

Large areas of farmland are waterlogged

More than a million people have been marooned in the flood-hit state of Orissa in eastern India.

The floods have killed more than 30 people and affected five million with unusually heavy rains in Orissa over the past week.

Correspondents say it is one of the worst floods to have hit the state in more than 50 years and comes just two years after a powerful cyclone that killed 6,000 people.

Naval boats and air force helicopters are being used to rescue flood victims and drop food and relief material.

But defence officials said the were being hampered by bad weather.

On Wednesday, the federal government in Delhi pledged some $22m in aid to the region.

"The situation is very serious," said cabinet spokesman Pramod Mahajan. "The prime minister has approved the immediate release of one billion rupees."

Large areas of farmland are waterlogged and has resulted in a loss of about 20 million rupees.

Fears

Orissa's chief minister has called on the national government to make emergency relief money available.

The flooding is expected to get worse because the authorities were forced to open floodgates on a dam on the state's largest river, the Mahanadi. That released hundreds of millions of gallons of water.

More low-lying villages, farmlands and villages are expected to be inundated.

What particularly worries state officials is that flooding has become so severe so early in the monsoon season. Heavy rain usually continues until September.