Bhubaneswar: In the wake of extensive damage caused by hailstorm in Mayurbhanj, the Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 20.38 crore towards compensation on the basis of provisional assessment report received from the district.
This was announced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari in the state Assembly on Monday.
In view of the devastation caused by hailstorm, an assistance package of Rs 20.38 crore has been provided for undertaking restoration work in the affected areas on a war footing, Pujari said.
Notably, nor’wester coupled with hailstorm caused major destruction across the Mayurbhanj district. The storm has ravaged 51 villages spanning 13 blocks, affecting 8,547 residents, many of whom are in urgent need of assistance.
As per the Minister, destruction of approximately 3,538 houses and extensive damage to around 442 hectares of crucial agricultural and horticultural terrain had been reported in the provisional assessment report.
Massive damage was caused in some of areas, including Bangiriposi and Bisoi blocks of Mayurbhanj. As final damage assessment reports are likely to get delayed, we had sought provisional reports from the District Collector.
Pujari further informed the Assembly that he along with Housing and Urban Development Minister Purna Chandra Mohapatra visited the affected areas in Mayurbhanj district on Sunday to take stock of the situation for appropriate steps.
IMD had earlier alerted on hailstorm, lightning, and rainfall activities in several districts of Odisha between March 20 and 24. Acting on the weather alerts, we had made elaborate arrangements in all blocks and geared up the disaster management, fire services, and other departments to face the challenges, the Minister said.
