Cyclone Dana: Odisha Suffers Loss Worth Rs 616.19 Crore, Says Minister Suresh Pujari

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday said that the total damages caused in the state due to severe cyclone Dana was pegged at Rs 616.19 crore.

The cyclonic storm Dana made landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra in Odisha coast with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, triggering torrential rain and high-speed winds uprooting trees and electric poles and causing significant damage to infrastructure and crops in 14 districts of the State.

Speaking to reporters here, Minister Pujari said it was estimated that the state suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 616.19 crore due to the cyclone.

Public infrastructures worth Rs 512.26 crore were damaged in the natural calamity, he said.

Similarly, the value of total crops and houses damaged in the cyclone was estimated at Rs 82.92 crore and Rs 21.32 crore, respectively, he said.

After getting approval from the chief minister, relief will be provided to the affected people in the next two or three days, Pujari said.

Besides, the fund utilised by the district collectors to meet emergency expenses to tackle the cyclone will also be reimbursed to the districts in two days, he added.

A total of 131 blocks in 14 districts have been either partially or fully affected by the cyclone and subsequent heavy rainfall.

The districts are Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Khurda, and Puri.

Earlier Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas of the state and directed concerned departments to immediately assess the damage and provide assistance to the needy. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja also accompanied the CM Majhi.