Over 16,000 Killed In Notified Disasters In Odisha In 5 Years, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management Sudam Marndi on Thursday said more than 16,000 human lives were lost due to various notified disasters in the state in the last 5 years.

In his reply to a question of Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete, the minister said notified disasters including lightning, drowning and snakebites claimed the lives of 16,372 people in all 30 districts of the state from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

While drowning claimed maximum lives of 7,874 people during the period, the toll due to snakebites stood at 5,219 and lightning led to death of 2,058.

Among other disasters, fire mishaps claimed 759 lives, cyclones 140, boat capsize 46, flood 73, heatwave 141 and whirlwind and heavy rain 31 each all over the state, Marndi said.

On the government compensation for such victims, Marndi said Rs 50,000 is paid to the families of those who died in heatwave and Rs 4 lakh in case of death in other notified disasters.

Giving the figure on wildlife related deaths in reply to a separate question of Umerkote MLA Nityanand Gond, the minister said 259 people have died due to elephant attack while 11 lost their lives in crocodile attack between 2021-22 and 2022-23.