As floods wreak havoc in the State with an unrelenting frequency every year, the Orissa Government is busy strengthening its search and rescue power. Besides carrying out a boat census across 24 districts, it too is preparing a directory of the vessels so as to be in readiness when the deluge strikes. The recent is addition of 18 aluminium boats, procured from Indian Registrar of Shipping, for increasing the rescue and search efficiency. Sources in the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC)'s office said, each of the 20 HP boats has been purchased at a cost of Rs 6 lakh. Weighing barely 150 to 200 kg, these boats have a payload capacity of 1,000 to 1,200 kg each. Besides, each vessel can carry about dozen persons during floods. The Government says that such boats have been pressed for rescue and search service for the first time in India. The vessels would be at the disposal of the SRC and kept at the Board of Revenue office. In fact, a mock drill of these new power boats is currently underway at Cuttack's Hadiapatha near Gadagadia Ghat. Presently, the SRC has 100 powerboats at its disposal and these vessels are kept at 24 districts which are prone to floods. Balasore which has borne the brunt in recent times has with it 17 boats. In fact, eight coastal districts which are more vulnerable to the deluge get a lion's share. Besides, SRC office has asked districts to carry out an update of census of privately-owned country boats, including the ownership and ferrying status. It will be followed by preparation of a boat directory. However, it is just not SRC's office which has a fleet of boats. The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force has 60 powerboats with its five units, while the Fire Services unit of Orissa Police has 20 more which are pressed into service for search and rescue operations.