Nor’wester Leaves Trail Of Destruction In Six Districts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has received preliminary reports on extensive damage caused by Nor’wester (Kalabaisakhi) in six districts.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Deputy Special Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said the six districts that have been affected by the Nor’wester are Bargarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Sonepur and Mayurbhanj.

Of the six districts, Bargarh has been the worst-affected with massive damage to standing crops in Bhatli, Atabira, Bheden, Barpalli and Bijepur blocks.

Besides, two deaths have been reported from Balasore and Bargarh districts due to falling of trees while one person died in wall collapse in Mayurbhanj district, Mohapatra informed.

He said the state government has decided to provide compensation to the tune of Rs 5.31 lakh towards damage to houses in Mayurbhanj district.

The collectors of these six districts have been asked to submit a detailed report on the damage at the earliest, he added.

Stating that 456 people had died in lightning strikes by March 31 this year, Mohapatra said the state government would provide Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to each of the family of the deceased.