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Cyclone Fani: Naveen Patnaik announces relief package; trains, flights begin operations

Flight operations at Bhubaneswar airport resumed on Saturday. Some trains started running from Bhubaneswar railway station on Sunday.

Cyclone Fani: Naveen Patnaik announces relief package; trains, flights begin operations

This aerial handout photograph released by the Indian Coast Guard on May 4, 2019 shows storm damage near the railway station in Puri in Odisha, after Cyclone Fani hit the region. (Photo by Handout / INDIAN COASTGUARD / AFP)

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced a special package for the cyclone-affected people in the state.

Patnaik said that all families affected by Cyclone Fani and covered under the National Food Security Act will get 50 kg of rice, Rs 2,000 and polythene sheets.

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In Khurdha district, Patnaik said that there will be additional one month quota of rice, Rs 1,000 and polythene sheets for all families under the NFSA.

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The amount will be Rs 500 for families in moderately-affected districts like Cuttack, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur.

The CM announced that people in all affected districts will get one month additional pension and house building assistance as per relief code.

“Houses completely damaged will be constructed under housing schemes. Loss of agricultural and horticultural crops and animal resources, fisheries will be assessed and compensated accordingly. Tree plantations will be taken up in mission mode soon after relief and restoration,” the CM said.

The CM has also directed affected district collectors to supply cooked food to people taking shelter at cyclone shelter centres for 15 days.

Meanwhile, flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar resumed on Saturday. The airport was battered by the cyclone when it struck on Friday.

Partial operations from Bhubaneswar railway station resumed on Sunday morning.

ANI reports that Prashanti Express, Visakha Express, Rajdhani Express, Konark Express, Hirakhand Express from Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar-Yashwantpur Express, Bhubaneswar-Anand Vihar (New Delhi) Express, and Odisha Samprak Kranti Express will run as per schedule.

Photos taken after the cyclone showed roofless railways platforms at Puri and Bhubaneswar stations.

Restoration work is currently underway. According to government officials, Fani damaged the power infrastructure in the state affecting over 30 lakh electricity consumers.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Sunday reviewed relief measures in the affected areas of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh with the states and central ministries and agencies concerned.

Unofficial sources said at least 16 people were killed in the cyclone.

The CM had on Saturday undertaken an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected areas.

He noted that it was one of the rarest of rare summer cyclones, the first one in 43 years to hit Odisha.

“A record 1.2 million people were evacuated in 24 hours time which is one of the biggest human evacuations in history,” the CM said.

At least 2000 emergency workers, youth clubs and others were engaged along with the ODRAF, NDRF, and about one lakh officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on Monday to take stock of the situation.

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