Power Restoration In Cyclone-Hit Areas By Sunset Today, Damage Assessment In A Week: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: As electricity supply was disrupted in several areas affected by cyclone Dana after the storm made landfall in Odisha, the state government on Friday asserted that complete normalcy will be restored in power distribution by evening.

Speaking to reporters after a post-cyclone review meeting, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the intensity of rain and wind velocity will decrease gradually as the cyclonic storm is getting weakened substantially after it made landfall in Bhitarkanika area of Kendrapada district.

He said teams of NDRF, ODRAF, Odisha Fire Service, OFDC and Rural Development department are working on war footing to restore normalcy in road communication by removing uprooted trees and other obstructions in affected areas.

Stating that power supply has got snapped in some areas, the Minister said work is underway in full swing to restore normalcy. Electricity supply will be restored in the disrupted areas by Friday evening, Pujari said, adding that telecom services remained unaffected during the cyclone.

The Minister said that people who have been housed in cyclone shelters are being provided with cooked food and other facilities, while pregnant women have been shifted to medical centres and ‘Maa Gruhas’ as a precautionary measure. Stating that 1,600 babies were born during the cyclone, he said 13 of them were twins

Several social and voluntary organisations are also extending assistance to the government in relief operation, he said, adding that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety and security of people.

While districts like Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur were severely affected by the cyclone, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Cuttack have also been impacted, the Minister said.

A thorough assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone will be made within a week and financial assistance will be provided at the earliest, Pujari said.

The Minister hailed the role played by different departments of the government, district administrations and voluntary agencies in dealing with the cyclone properly in a collective way.