The death toll due to the very severe Cyclone Fani, which hit the State’s coast on May 3, rose to 43 with two more casualties being confirmed by the Government on Saturday. According to Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi, the two more bodies were recovered at two different places.
Out of the toll, the highest 21 is in Puri district, six in Cuttack, five in Khordha, four each in Mayurbhanj and Jajpur and three in Kendrapada district.
According to the SRC, three persons were injured and hospitalised in Bhubaneswar, four grievously injured in Kendrapada and 74 in Jajpur district. A total of 1,65,30,900 people of 16,659 villages under 159 blocks and 52 urban local bodies spread over 14 districts have been affected in the cyclonic storm.
The affected districts are Angul, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh and Puri.
Besides, 5,08,467 houses and 87,39,657 livestock have been affected in the calamity. As many as 34,56,362 domestic animals have died in the storm, said a situation report released by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
Clearing of roads and power restoration process are in full swing in Bhubaneswar city and all affected districts. In Puri district, the marine drive, Nimapara-Satsankh road, New Jagannath Sadak, Gop-Balighai Road, Pipili-Konark, Patnaikia-Khordha road and Pipili-Jatni road have been cleared. All PWD roads have been cleared in Bhubaneswar and other parts of Khordha district. The SRC said 100-per cent power supply has been restored in Cuttack city.
SRC Sethi has written to the Khordha district Collector asking him to ensure implementation of the Chief Minister’s package to the families who do not have a ration card.
He asked the Collector to provide assistance to families living in slums under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) even if they do not own a ration card under the National Food Security Act and the State Food Security Scheme.
The decision was taken after several slum dwellers expressed unhappiness over not being paid Government assistance even though they have suffered a lot due to Fani.
According to the package, the families living under the BMC who do not possess a ration card would receive Rs 2,000 as monetary assistance, Rs 500 for polythene and 50 kg of rice.