Berhampur: Suffering from huge losses in the devastating flood after Cyclone Arnab, many traders in Aska and Sheragada, two major business centres in Ganjam district, are selling off stocks damaged by water at throwaway prices. The commodities like clothes, saris, mats, foodgrains, etc., which previously sold for Rs 500, are now being offered at Rs 100 to Rs 120.Situated on the banks of Rushikulya and its tributary Badanadi, Aska was worst affected by floods in both rivers triggered by the heavy rain. The floodwater entered almost all outlets even by breaking shutters and stood 10 to 15 ft high.Similarly, traders in Sheragada sell textiles, cutlery, foodgrains and some other items that have been damaged by mud and contaminated water. In Sheragada, the floodwater stood at 10 to 12 ft in the bazaar area.Rabi Patra of Binayak bazaar, Aska, who owns a general store with multiple items, said floodwater rushed into the market after heavy rain on the night of Oct 28, leaving traders with no time to move stocks to safety. “The water level rose so rapidly that shopkeepers were unable to save their items,” said Sravan Kumar Patra, a cloth merchant in Laxmi bazaar.Describing this year’s flood as more devastating than 1990, Rabi said the flood had wiped out everything he had built and left his family’s future uncertain. He said they were selling the soaked items at throwaway prices. “The clothes that I stocked for Diwali are now soaked in floodwater. I am forced to sell those to clean the outlet,” added Somanath Sahu, another trader in Sheragada.