Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Dana and the subsequent flooding have caused extensive damage across Odisha, with preliminary assessments estimating losses at approximately Rs 600 crore. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari disclosed these figures on Monday, highlighting the cyclone’s significant impact on both infrastructure and livelihoods.
Addressing reporters, Minister Pujari noted that the severe weather affected more than 41 lakh residents in 11,637 villages spanning 131 blocks. “Reports from all 14 impacted districts have been received, and the total damage from Cyclone Dana stands at an estimated Rs 600 crore. The hardest-hit areas include Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara, while Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Cuttack also reported considerable damage,” he said.
The cyclone left 16,417 houses damaged, with 27 completely destroyed and 14,680 suffering partial damage. Minister Pujari explained that all state departments, except for Panchayati Raj, have submitted their initial damage reports. The Energy Department emerged as the most affected, with significant losses incurred during the cyclone.
Pujari announced that compensation for crop and individual damages would commence soon, with the final damage figures set to be consolidated after receiving the last reports. “We expect to have all the pending assessments completed by this evening. These will be integrated into a comprehensive damage report, which will be submitted to the Central government by Tuesday to seek financial assistance,” he added.
The state government had initially directed departments to submit their assessments by November 2 to expedite the aid process.