Central team to visit Odisha's cyclone hit areas on November 18

BHUBANESWAR: An eight-member inter-ministerial central team is scheduled to undertake a two-day tour to cyclone Hudhud affected districts of Odisha from tomorrow, officials said.

According to the special relief commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra, the team led by Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Gopal Krishan Diwedi, would arrive here tomorrow and split into two groups.

Team A would go to Koraput-Malkngir districts and Team B would go to Gajpati-Raygada districts, he said.

The members would tour different villages and make assessment of damages caused due to the cyclone and also oversee relief measures undertaken in affected areas.

The members would interact with the district Collectors and other officials before returning to the state capital on November 19, when a wrap-up meting with the central team would be held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Mohapatra said.

Earlier, the state government had sought an assistance of Rs 777.12 crore for restoration and rehabilitation work in 22 districts affected by the calamity.

Mohapatra said of the total 22 districts affected by the cyclone, extensive damage had been caused in 15 districts while seven other districts were partially hit.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on November 5 in New Delhi and had demanded Rs 500 crore interim central assistance for damages incurred due to cyclone Hudhud.