Central teams in West Bengal, Odisha to assess cyclone damage

Two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams visited cyclone-hit areas in West Bengal and Odisha during their three-day visits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore in total for the two states.

Kolkata/Bhubaneshwar: A seven-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on Monday visited Digha and Mandarmani in Purba Medinipur district, where the state government officials gave a presentation on the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas.

The team headed by S K Shahi, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, is scheduled to complete its assessment by June 9 and return to Delhi. The members have also held a meeting with the state finance department officials.

Cyclone Yaas left behind a trail of destruction after making landfall in coastal Odisha and West Bengal on May 26.

IMCT reaches Odisha

Another IMCT, headed by Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal, arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar. The team, which includes four Odia officers, is scheduled to visit Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Mayurbhanj districts on Monday and Tuesday to assess the damage caused by the cyclone. The IMCT will be divided into two sub-teams and each unit will visit two districts on Monday and Tuesday, a member of the central team said.

Before leaving for New Delhi, the team members will hold a meeting with Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena.

After undertaking an aerial survey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on May 28 announced Rs 500 crore relief assistance for the state and also said that a central team will visit the state soon.

The state has pegged the post-cyclone damage at Rs 610 crore. Of this, Rs 520 crore is lost to the government infrastructure while the remaining Rs 90 crore is damage caused to private properties.

Agency inputs