Bhubaneswar: Nearly 36 lakh people in 1,671 gram panchayats in 108 blocks and 426 wards of 31 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 14 districts of the State were affected by the cyclone Dana that hit the state on October 23 mid-night.
Speaking to media persons here, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari today said that 8,10,896 people were evacuated from low-lying areas and vulnerable places to cyclone shelters and relief centres in the affected districts of the State before ‘Dana’ hit Odisha coast.
The evacuated people stayed at 6,210 cyclone relief centres, both permanent and temporary, till it subsided completely.
As people returned to their homes after the situation became normal, 1,178 relief centres remained operational today, he informed.
“The people whose houses were partially damaged have been provided with polythene sheets and other necessary items. They can stay in the relief centres and avail the cooked food facility till their houses are repaired completely,” said Shri Pujari
The Minister further said that as many as 28 persons including a doctor have suffered snake bites during the cyclone.
According to preliminary reports, around 5,840 houses have been fully or partially damaged due to the cyclone and subsequent flooding, Pujari said.
“Whenever there is a disaster, people lose their houses and get compensation. This time, we want to bring a permanent solution to the problem and provide pucca houses to them in a phased manner,” he said.
The State Government was also planning to undertake a survey of kutcha houses located in cyclone and flood-prone areas of the State, he said, adding, there has been “huge crop loss” in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Referring to the swollen Budhabalang river, which has mostly affected Balasore district, he said the water level in the river has remained static and below the danger level, “but above the warning sign”
“As the rainfall has reduced in the region and the upper catchment area, the water level in Budhabalanga will not increase further. We hope the situation will improve by this evening,” Shri Pujari said
“The Special Relief Commissioner has written letters to the District Collectors to positively send detailed reports regarding damages to infrastructure in the 14 affected districts of the state by November 2. The collectors have also been asked to send the report on damages to crops and houses in their respective districts,” Pujari stated.
He said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi may soon pay an aerial visit to the affected districts and inspect the damages caused by the cyclone.
The Minister further informed that the reports regarding the damage will be sent to the Union Government and a Central Team will also visit the State to assess the damage.