Away from the Himalayas, in flood-ravaged Orissa, waters have receded from the coastal area over a week ago, but people are waiting for damage assessment instead of repairing their houses.

"We are advised to keep the trails of destruction intact till the revenue inspector makes spot verification of the damaged houses, which would be photographed as an evidence of the loss," flood victims of Kendrapara district said.

Victims were told to keep broken houses as it is till the revenue inspector visits the village. "The sight of the broken house pains me ... I have the resources to rebuild the kutcha house on my own. But I will wait for house damage assistance from the government," the man said rummaging through the remains of his broken down mud-walled house.