Over 35 lakh people affected by Cyclone Dana in Odisha, 8 lakh evacuated

A total of 35.95 lakh people in Odisha have been affected Cyclone Dana and further flooding in 14 districts, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Sunday.

Pujari also said that 8,10,896 people have been evacuated to 6,210 cyclone relief centres.

He told reporters that Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak districts were the worst affected and the death toll was “still zero”.

“As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, evacuees have been accommodated in 1,178 cyclone relief centers and are being provided with ready meals and other basic necessities,” the minister said.

People who lost their homes as a result of the disaster are given plastic sheets.

He said that Cyclone Dana, which hit on Friday morning, affected people in 1,671 gram panchayats under 108 blocks in 14 districts.

According to preliminary data, around 5,840 houses have been completely or partially damaged due to the cyclone and subsequent flooding, Pujari said.

“When disaster strikes, people lose their homes and receive compensation. This time we want to resolve the issue finally and provide them with pucca houses in a phased manner,” he said.

The Odisha government also planned to conduct a survey of Kutchi houses located in cyclone and flood prone areas of the state.

Pujari also said there had been “huge crop losses” after the cyclone hit the east coast early on Friday, bringing torrential rain and strong winds.

Referring to the bursting of the Budhabalang river, which mainly affected Balasore district, he said the water level in the river remained static and below the danger level “but above the warning mark”.

“Since the rainfall in the region and in the upper part of the catchment has decreased, the water level in Budhabalanga will not rise again. We hope the situation will improve by this evening,” Pujari said.

The minister said that Kansabansa river in Balasore district is also erupting and has affected some villages under Soro block.

A central team is likely to visit Odisha to assess the damage, he said.

Pujari said the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has asked officials concerned to submit damage assessment reports so that the state government can seek help from the Centre.

Asked about the opposition BJD’s claim that four people had died due to the cyclone, he said the deaths had “nothing to do with the calamity”.