An aerial shot of Balasore, one of the worst-affected districts of Odisha
The timely and accurate predictions by the meteorological department along with swift action by the government and disaster management forces may have minimised the loss of lives, but the twin calamity of Cyclone Phailin and the resultant floods have still affected over 1.2 crore people in more than 16,000 villages in Odisha.
The death toll in the state due to the impact of the cyclone has risen to 28.
Here are the latest developments:
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an aerial survey of flood-hit Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts yesterday. (Track updates)
Nearly 75,000 people are stranded in Balasore, one of the worst-affected districts.The situation "is critical," according to PK Mohapatra, the state's Special Relief Commissioner, as flood waters from the Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha rivers inundated scores of villages in the district.
"We were stranded on the rooftop for four days. We tried to call the control room but no one came to our rescue. One sack of flatted rice was sent for 1,000 people," a young boy, one of the thousands stranded in Balasore, said.
Defence forces are on alert in view of heavy rains in Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to deal with any flood situation, an official release said. "We have intensified relief efforts in the affected areas as the flood waters have started receding," Mr Mohapatra told IANS.
Air dropping of food packets has been stopped, as all the affected places are now approachable by road or in boats, according to officials. (Cyclone Phailin: Full coverage)
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister S N Patro said while standing crops over 6,25,408 hectare area had been destroyed, 3,33,070 houses were damaged.
According to a preliminary assessment by the Odisha government, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 900 crore in the power sector after cyclone Phailin severely damaged infrastructure.
Of the projected figure, loss in Ganjam district alone is estimated in the range of Rs 500-600 crore. Officials said low transmission line of 34,000 kms length and high tension line of 3,700 kms have been completely damaged.
The Odisha government has decided to set up NGO coordination centres in the seven districts badly affected by the twin calamities. The NGOs will work on the ground with volunteers and other materials in close coordination with the district administration, official sources said.
The government yesterday announced Rs.4 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Rs.2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the kin of those killed in the disaster. Those who have been seriously injured in the cyclone will receive Rs. 50,000 from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
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