The Centre has already held a video conference with officials of the cyclone-affected states of Bengal and Odisha. According to sources, officials of Odisha said that the state had not recorded any casualty but huge damage was caused to standing crops.
The damage caused in Bengal was much higher, as not only were standing crops damaged but the cyclone had claimed seven lives, of which five were from North 24-Parganas, one from South 24-Parganas and one from East Midnapore.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday and had assured all help to the state government. Mr Modi had also lauded the work undertaken by the state administration.
Meanwhile, a preliminary comprehensive report on the extent of damage caused by the cyclone would be submitted to the state administration tomorrow morning.
A preliminary comprehensive report on the extent of damage caused by the cyclone would be submitted to the state administration tomorrow morning.
The chief secretary-headed task force that was set up yesterday by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to review the relief and rehabilitation work held its first meeting in Nabanna this morning.
An account was taken on the damage caused by the cyclone in a sector-wise manner. Along with this, discussions were held on the status of the relief work that has been undertaken.
“The preliminary report on damage and rehabilitation work will be submitted by 12 pm tomorrow. However, the extent of damage is huge and figures may rise further,” said an official.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said yesterday that around six lakh people were affected but the figure may rise and around 1.78 lakh were rescued.
She had conducted an aerial survey of Namkhana and Bakkhali, which were severely affected by the cyclone and held an administrative review meeting at Kakdwip.
She would pay a similar visit to the cyclone affected areas of Basirhat in North 24-Parganas tomorrow morning. Sources in Nabanna said that the preliminary report would be placed before the chief minister at that time.