Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 22, 2020, visited Odisha to take stock of the situation in the wake of Cyclone Amphan. He was accompanied by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Ministers of State Babul Supriyo, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, and Ms Debasree Chaudhuri.
Accompanied by the Governor of Odisha Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Prime Minister Modi conducted an aerial survey of Bhadrak and Balasore to assess the impact of the cyclone.
After the aerial survey, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting in Bhubaneshwar with the senior State and Central Government functionaries to review the situation. He announced a financial assistance of Rs. 500 crore to the State of Odisha pending the assessment of the damage by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team, according to a PIB release.
The Prime Minister gave his assurance that the Union Government would work shoulder to shoulder with the State Governments at this difficult time and give all possible assistance for restoration and rebuilding of infrastructure in the areas affected by the cyclone.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Odisha and deep sorrow for the lives lost, the Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured in the cyclone in the State.
The PM said Odisha has been able to achieve a great success in saving the lives of the people with the help of the arrangements that have been institutionalised here and with the knowledge of what should be done by the citizens in the villages. And many congratulations to the citizens of Odisha, the administration and the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Babu and his entire team. But when such a big natural disaster comes, there is an extensive loss of property. The loss in Odisha has not been much compared to that of West Bengal, but even while crossing the state the Super-Cyclone has left its trail.