Cyclone Fani: CM Patnaik Donates Year’s Salary; States Rally Around Ravaged Odisha

The Chief Minister has also donated his year's salary to the Chief Minister's relief fund.

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a review meeting with senior officials on Monday in view of cyclone Fani. The Chief Minister has also donated his year’s salary to the Chief Minister’s relief fund.

In a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also announced a release of Rs 1,000 crore for relief measures in the state. This amount is in addition to Rs 341 crore which the Centre had sanctioned in advance to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

“Power connectivity needs to be restored on a priority basis as drinking water supply, telephone connectivity and banking operations need electricity,” said Cabinet Secretary Sinha reportedly said.

When cyclone Fani hit Odisha last week, at least 34 people were killed and hundreds injured. The extremely severe cyclonic storm unleashed rain and windstorm, blowing away thatched roofs of houses, swamping towns and villages in Odisha. There has been massive damage to property and the cost is currently in the process of being estimated.

PM Narendra Modi said that while Rs 381 crore had been issued for relief work previously, an additional Rs 1,000 crore will be given. He also praised CM Patnaik for his efforts in trying to limit damage to life and property. “Naveen babu did good planning. The Government of India will be with him in carrying forward the work,” he said as he toured some of the cyclone-affected districts in the state.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has ordered an immediate contribution of Rs 10 crore for relief and rehabilitation work in Odisha.

“On behalf of the State government and the people of Tamil Nadu, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family members of all those who have lost their lives in the cyclone and rains,” Palaniswami said in an official release.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 10 crore from CM Relief Fund for emergency relief for the Odisha cyclone victims while Chhattisgarh has announced Rs 11 crore from the CM Relief Fund.