Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India]: Disclosing details of the damage assessment report after cyclone ‘Dana’, Odisha Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari said that in the aftermath of the cyclone and following floods, the loss was estimated to be at least Rs 600 crores.
Suresh Pujari said, “As an aftermath of cyclone ‘Dana’ and the following floods, 14 districts in Odisha have been affected. Several departments of the government have also been affected. Power ministry, Panchayati Raj, Mass education department, rural development department have been affected. Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Baleswar, and surrounding districts have been most affected. We are analysing the damage. The loss amounts to at least Rs 600 crores.”
He further said that in these 14 affected districts, there are 166 blocks, and out of that 131 blocks have been affected.
“There has been loss to crops, damages to houses. We will start distributing financial aid within one or two days,” he added.
Earlier Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas of the state and directed concerned departments to immediately assess the damage and provide assistance to the needy. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja also accompanied the CM Majhi.
The Chief Minister directed concerned departments to immediately assess the damage and to provide assistance to those people impacted by Cyclone Dana.
Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja took stock of the damage done in the state, and the relief efforts being carried out, and highlighted that around 92 percent of connectivity has been restored across the state.
Speaking to media on Saturday, he said, “An assessment has been done… About 22 lakh electricity consumers have been affected by the cyclone and connectivity has been restored to 92% of the people except Bhadrak district… Our teams are working for the rest of the people as well… About 8.1 lakh people came to cyclone shelters though they have gone back after the situation became normal. We still have only 1.1 lakh people in the shelters.”
Cyclone Dana hit the Odisha coast on October 25, though the state did not report any causality during the storm. CM on Saturday, expressed gratitude to the people who played a vital role in this.
The cyclonic storm made landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, uprooted trees, and snapped power lines in several areas. Multiple organisations, including the Indian Navy, Air force, National Disaster Response Force helped in sending aid across the state and carrying out evacuations.