Cyclone Fani toll rises to 34; govt steps up relief and restoration efforts

The death count in cyclone-hit coastal Odisha rose to 34 on Sunday, as the Central and state agencies stepped up relief and restoration efforts. With more areas becoming accessible, authorities expect the toll to rise further. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state on Monday to assess the damages.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to the public to contribute towards rebuilding the state. "Houses completely damaged will be constructed under housing schemes. Loss of crops, animal resources, fisheries will be assessed and compensated accordingly. Tree plantation will be taken up in mission mode after relief and restoration," he said.

Among those killed, 21 were from Puri. Bishnupada Sethi, Special Relief Commissioner said other casualties were recorded from Bhubaneswar and Mayurbhanj among other places. "The casualties are largely of people who succumbed to injuries they suffered after tree and wall collapses," Sethi told DNA.

Officials said the 12th century Jagannath temple suffered damages after Cyclone Fani, generating winds up to 200 km per hour, swept through Puri on May 3. Iron scaffoldings erected for temple repairs crumbled, causing damages, while branches of a holy tree on the premises gave away, said officials.

Chhattisgarh has announced an assistance of Rs 11 crore, while Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have offered Rs 10 crore each to the Fani-battered state.

The National Crisis Management Committee said power transmission and distribution systems near Bhubaneswar and Puri have suffered destruction.

NCMC has directed the Ministry of Power and Department of Telecommunications to coordinate with the Odisha government and restore of power and telecommunication facilities on top priority.

Public sector companies in power, oil and gas have been asked to contribute towards relief measures under their corporate social responsibility funding. The Ministry of Steel said nearly 3,500 electric poles are being arranged and manufacturing of additional poles is also being undertaken.

The Indian Railways has reintroduced 85 of the 138 cancelled trains. Flight operations to Bhubaneswar resumed with 41 services so far, even though the airport was devastated. The Defence Ministry has moved medicines and relief material through special planes and helicopters.

CM Patnaik said that those living in the "moderately-affected" districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur will be eligible for a month's quota of rice and Rs 500 in cash. He also announced an assistance of Rs 95,100 for "fully-damaged" houses, Rs 52,000 for "partially-damaged" houses and Rs 3,200 for houses that suffered minor damage. "The government has made arrangements to provide cooked food for free over the next 15 days. We will also take up tree plantation on a mission mode," he added.