Cyclone Yaas: PM Modi Announces Rs 500 Cr Assistance For Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore for Cyclone Yaas affected areas of Odisha.

PM visited Odisha and West Bengal to assess the damage caused by cyclone Yaas. He chaired a review meeting at Bhubaneswar on relief and rehabilitation measures being carried out in the state. Later he made an aerial survey of affected areas in Odisha and West Bengal.

The PM had announced financial assistance of Rs 1000 crore for immediate relief activities in Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand. While Rs 500 Crore has been given to Odisha, another Rs 500 crore would be given to West Bengal and Jharkhand after damage assessment.

An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh has also been announced for the kin of deceased, while Rs 50,000 would be given to seriously injured persons.

Meanwhile, during the review Odisha demanded for two long term solutions. “We have not asked for any kind of assistance from the centre, as we didn’t want to burden the centre. However, we have asked for disaster resilient power infrastructure and steps for the  protection of coastal areas from sea erosion and cyclones,” said Special Relief Commissioner, Pradeep Jena.