Odisha Congress Demands Rs 10L Ex-Gratia For Those Killed In Twin Calamities

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress on Tuesday demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed in the severe cyclonic storm Titli and the subsequent floods.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik, who is on a three-day visit to the affected areas, said the state government has completely failed to tackle the situation.

“The media reports put the death toll at 24 and the number is increasing with every passing day. People have lost home and hearth in the twin calamities. The huge destruction could have been avoided had the state government planned and prepared itself in accordance with the advice of the Met department,” he said.

Besides an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the deceased, the government should extend all help to the injured, he further said.

The OPCC president said that relief and primary rehabilitation work in the affected areas should be taken up on a war footing. “The government must prepare a detailed and accurate report of destruction and repair the roads and bridges immediately and construct houses for those rendered homeless,” he added.