Central team to assess damage from Cyclone ‘Dana’ in Odisha starting Nov 24

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20: A central team will arrive in Odisha on November 24 to assess the damage caused by Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana,’ Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Wednesday. The team, led by Home Ministry Joint Secretary P.K. Rai, will stay in the state until November 27 to thoroughly evaluate the post-cyclone situation.

The seven-member team is set to begin its visit on November 25, starting in Bhadrak district, before moving on to Balasore and Kendrapara. After touring the affected areas, the team will return to Bhubaneswar on November 26 for discussions with state officials. They will also pay a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Minister Pujari emphasized that the central assistance will be released based on both the Odisha Government's damage report and the findings of the central team. He also noted that the state is working towards permanent solutions to mitigate damage from natural disasters by developing cyclone-resistant infrastructure with central government support.

On November 6, the Odisha Government had released Rs 423 crore in compensation for the districts hit by ‘Dana.’ Preliminary reports indicate that approximately 41 lakh people across 14 districts were affected by the cyclone.