Central Team To Assess Damage Caused By Cyclone ‘Dana’ In Odisha Next Week

Bhubaneswar: A Central team is slated to visit Odisha and make a thorough evaluation of the damage caused by Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana’ in the state.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters on Wednesday that the team is scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar on November 24 on a four-day visit to the state for assessment of the damage caused to different sectors.

The team will be in Odisha till November 27 to conduct a detailed assessment of the post-cyclone situation. The seven-member team, led by Joint Secretary in Home Ministry P K Rai, is slated to tour the cyclone-affected areas of the state.

The Central team will first visit Bhadrak district on November 25, followed by a visit to Balasore and then Kendrapada. After completing their district visits, the team members will return to Bhubaneswar on November 26 to hold discussions with senior officials, sources said.

The Central team is also likely to have a courtesy meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The Central government will release financial assistance on the basis of the damage assessment report of Odisha government and the report of the Central team on post-cyclone situation after verification of the damage, the Minister said.

He said the state government is making efforts for a permanent solution to the damage being caused by natural disasters and trying to build cyclone-resilient infrastructure and houses with the support of the Central government.

It may be noted that the state government had released Rs 423 crore on November 6 as compensation against damages caused in the districts affected by cyclone ‘Dana’.

As per the reports received from different districts, at least 41 lakh people belonging to 11,637 villages under 131 blocks of 14 districts were affected due to the cyclonic storm.

Three districts – Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapada – have been severely affected by the cyclone. Balasore was badly affected due to floodwater in the aftermath of the cyclone.