Hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s gesture to provide ex-gratia out of the National Relief Fund to next to the kin of those killed in the twin calamity – Phailin and subsequent floods in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced a higher amount of ex-gratia assistance to the deceased family.
According to official sources, as many as 26 persons were killed during the cyclone and subsequent floods so far in the State. The cyclone death toll alone was 21. The Chief Minister had announced ex-gratia assistance to the tune of Rs 4 lakh to each of the deceased family which is double the amount announced by the Prime Minister.