Cyclone Fani: Odisha estimates Rs 11,942 crore loss

The Odisha government on Wednesday submitted a preliminary report which estimated damages of Rs 11,942 crore due to cyclone Fani that hit the coastal districts on May 3. The government submitted the report to a central team led by Home Ministry Additional Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj that visited several cyclone affected areas. In the report, the government said the loss to public properties, including expenses incurred on relief and response operations, was estimated at Rs 11,942 crore.

Odisha has estimated a total financial burden of Rs 6,767.56 crore for relief and response works undertaken in the aftermath of the cyclone. It said it would distribute Rs 5,000 crore as house building assistance and Rs 200 crore as input subsidy to farmers.

"This is the preliminary assessment. We will undertake village-to-village survey to assess the loss. We will prepare a final memorandum by the month end," said Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi. He said that the central team had been requested for revision of certain norms for disaster management.