Odisha announces Rs 423 crore aid package for Cyclone Dana-affected districts

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: The Odisha government has announced compensation for those impacted by Cyclone Dana, releasing an initial relief package of Rs 423.05 crore to the affected districts.

This assistance, coordinated by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, will be distributed by local district administrations to support those in need. The aid includes Rs 8,292 lakh for crop losses, Rs 948 lakh for housing damage, and Rs 29,347 lakh for damage to public infrastructure.

According to Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, preliminary assessments estimate the total loss at around Rs 600 crore.

The most severely impacted districts include Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara, with additional effects felt in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Cuttack. Cyclone Dana has affected 131 blocks across 14 districts, impacting 41 lakh people in 11,637 villages. Additionally, 16,417 houses were damaged, with 27 completely destroyed and 14,680 partially damaged.

Minister Pujari assured residents that the state government will compensate for damaged houses and crops, with housing assistance to be provided through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for those who have lost their homes.