India, Nov. 1 -- An acute shortage of safe drinking water has compounded the suffering of thousands of people affected by floods in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts of southern Odisha. Days of inundation caused by cyclone Arnab have left families struggling to access food, clean water, sanitation facilities and medical assistance.

With hand pumps submerged in stagnant floodwater, residents say that the few functioning tube wells are supplying potentially contaminated water, raising fears of outbreaks of water-borne diseases. "The biggest problem is drinking water. Rescue boats are the only means of reaching the main road," said Santi Behera, 43, of Rajapur village in Ganjam district. Balabhadra Sahoo, 55, of Biripur village in th...