The Phailin has caused a loss of Rs 121 crore in Puri district. On Sunday, the District Magistrate filed a preliminary report to the State Government in this regard.
The report said 17,50,975 people belonging to 1,769 villages of all the 11 blocks are affected while 1,05,000 houses are damaged. Crops in 1,37,971 hectares of land has been destroyed. Floods in nine gram panchayats of Kanas block have worsened the situation. Several villages still remain under knee-deep waters.
The report further stated that 595 pet animals and nearly 5,000 chickens perished in the cyclone. Public utility establishments like 650 school buildings were damaged while 385 km of roads including 21culverts were washed away.
As many as 500 peacocks and 100 deer which were attracting tourists in the Sanpatana forest are nowhere to be found. Forest officials were searching nearby areas for these animals.
The forest area between Sanpatana and Arakhkuda situated in close proximity to the sea acting as a natural barrier between the sea and the land mass were almost washed away, forest officials said. large-scale soil erosion was noticed along the coast.
Besides, damage and loss of boats and fishing equipments of fishermen in the Chilka lake and other fishermen settlements in Chakratirth, Chandrabhaga and Astarang fishing bases were reported.