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Bhubaneswar, Oct 29 (IANS) Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday said that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the state has been largely spared from the potentially severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’.
Briefing media persons after a review meeting on the impact of cyclone ‘Montha’, Minister Pujari said that 33 blocks and 11 urban local bodies (ULBs) of the state have so far been affected by the severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’.
He also said that Goshani block of Gajapati recorded 150.5 mm rainfall, while Rayagada and Mohana blocks of the same district, Patrapur block of Ganjam district and Udala block of Mayurbhanj district received heavy rainfall of over 100 mm.
Minister Pujari said that 50 to 100 mm of rain was recorded in 56 blocks and ULBs of several districts of the state in the last 24 hours.
The Revenue Minister said that around 19,000 people from sensitive and low-lying areas of the affected districts of the state have been shifted to 2,164 cyclone shelters with all necessary facilities including cooked food, clean drinking water etc.
Free kitchen services have been provided at 362 locations, where nutritious cooked food is being provided to 18,732 evacuated persons.
The state government shifted 2,198 pregnant mothers to various health centers and mother homes.
The minister said that the state government keeps receiving reports of many pregnant women giving birth to children at such health facilities.
Minister Pujari said that the state government has deployed a record number of rescue teams this time for the management of Cyclone Montha, which includes 33 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), five National Disaster Response Force and 133 fire service teams.
State forest department officials having experience in the field of disaster management were also deployed to assist the security forces in their work.
The Revenue Minister said the damage caused by the cyclone will be assessed from Thursday and officials will submit the report within 72 hours.
He assured that compensation for the damage will be provided as soon as the report is received.
Minister Pujari said, “The district administration will be directed to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Montha from tomorrow (Thursday). The department is already receiving reports of large-scale damage to rice and other crops across the state. We are in touch with the agriculture department in this regard. We will involve agriculture, cooperation, revenue and other departments to properly assess the damage caused to the crops.”
–IANS
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