PM Modi announces Rs 500 crore financial assistance to cyclone Amphan-hit Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited Odisha to take stock of the situation in the wake of Cyclone Amphan and announced financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state, pending the assessment of the damage by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team.

He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those who are seriously injured in the cyclone in the state.

He was accompanied on the visit by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Ministers of State Babul Supriyo, Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Debasree Chaudhuri. 

Modi conducted an aerial survey of the Bhadrak and Balasore region to assess the impact of the cyclone, in which he was accompanied by Governor of Odisha Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik.

The prime minister later chaired a meeting in Bhubaneshwar with the senior state and central government functionaries to review the situation

Prime Minister gave his assurance that the Union Government would work shoulder to shoulder with the State Governments at this difficult time and give all possible assistance for restoration and rebuilding of infrastructure in the areas affected by the cyclone.  

Expressing solidarity with the people of Odisha and deep sorrow for the lives lost, Modi assured that the government at the Centre will provide all the necessary assistance to the state governments to restore and rebuild the infrastructure in the areas affected by the cyclone.

Cyclone Amphan left a trail of destruction in Odisha, damaging power and telecom infrastructure in several coastal districts.