Odisha announces food packages for cyclone-hit families

BHUBANESWAR: With over one crore people hit by Cyclone Phailin in Odisha that left a trail of destruction, the state government today announced food assistance packages for the families living in affected villages.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced food assistance packages of 14 days and 7 days for 'very severely affected' and 'severely affected' villages respectively.

"The families in severely affected villages in need of support will be provided food assistance for 14 days. They will get 50 kilogram of rice and Rs 400 cash each for dal per family," Patnaik said.

Similarly, Patnaik said the families living in severely affected villages will get seven days relief. They will get 25 kilogram of rice and Rs 200 for dal as food assistance.

The fishermen, who were prevented to go into the sea for fishing because of the cyclone, will be given 10 kg of rice each for loss of livelihood, the chief minister said.

The people have lost standing crop and their houses damaged in the calamity will be given assistance after due assessment as per norm, the chief minister said.

So far the government has identified 1,02,65,872 people as affected by the devastating cyclone.

Meanwhile, the state special relief commissioner confirmed the death of 17 people in the cyclone and revised the number of persons evacuated to 9.15 lakh.