Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, after an aerial survey of cyclone Yaas hit areas on Thursday, reviewed the post-cyclone reconstruction and restoration works through videoconferencing and directed the officials to assess house damages within seven days.
Patnaik said that as seven days’ relief is already being undertaken in the affected areas, now the focus should be on relief, restoration and reconstruction and all this should be done on war footing.
He hoped that electricity and drinking water supply and restoration of connecting roads would be done immediately.He alerted the administration on the possible flooding in river Baitarani. "Odisha has once again proved to be very successful and effective in managing natural disasters with the help of the public," Patnaik said.
He also thanked all people, civil society organisations of the affected districts and local administrations besides NDRF and IMD for their cooperation in the alert, relief and relocation works.
While presenting the restoration work status, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said Bhadrak and Baleswar districts were the worst-affected.
He said 75% to 80% of the power transmission lines have been restored except in the marooned areas. Water supply has been ensured through tankers and DG sets. Special Relief Commission Pradeep Jena stated that 7,10,000 people in the 12 concerned districts had been evacuated and were kept in 8,410 shelters. There were heavy rains in 200 blocks. Kusumi block of Mayurbhanj district received the maximum rainfall of 515 mm. According to the Women and Child Development Department, nearly 4,500 pregnant women out of about 2,100 were shifted to hospitals and 750 babies were born during the cyclone. Chief Minister's Private Secretary V.K. Pandian coordinated the meeting.