‘Yaas’ impact: PM announces INR 1K cr relief package after aerial survey

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conducted an aerial survey to review the damages caused by the severe cyclonic storm ‘Yaas in Odisha and West Bengal.

Expressing solidarity with the people affected by the cyclonic storm, the Prime Minister announced financial assistance of INR 1,000 crore for immediate relief activities. Of this, INR 500 crore would be given to Odisha, while the remaining amount would be allotted to West Bengal and Jharkhand on the basis of the extent of damage.

The Union government will also deploy an inter-ministerial team to visit the states to assess the extent of damage, based on which further assistance will be announced.

The Centre has assured all help for restoration and rebuilding of the infrastructure in the affected areas.

An amount of INR 2 lakh ex gratia would be given to the next of kin of the deceased, while INR 50,000 would be given to the injured persons.

During his visit to Odisha and West Bengal to review the situation arising out of cyclone Yaas, the Prime Minister undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas in Bhadrak and Baleswar districts in Odisha, and East Midnapore in West Bengal.

In Bhubaneswar, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting to review the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken so far.

The Prime Minister was briefed that the maximum damage due to cyclone Yaas happened in Odisha, and in some parts of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Modi assured the people of Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand that the Centre will work closely with the state governments at this difficult time, and extend all possible assistance for the restoration and rebuilding of the infrastructure in the affected areas.

The Prime Minister expressed his solidarity with all those who suffered due to the cyclone and expressed deep sorrow to the families which lost their kin during the calamity.

He also spoke about the importance of building trust among the people for better cooperation in relief efforts.

Modi appreciated the preparedness and disaster management measures of the Odisha government which resulted in minimal loss of lives. He also noted that the state has embarked on long-term mitigation efforts to deal with natural disasters.

One dead, 6 injured in Bihar

Cyclone Yaas impacted several districts of Bihar on Friday as one person died and six were reportedly injured in Bihar’s Begusarai district after an old house collapsed. The incident occurred at Nonpur village under Teghra police station.

The deceased has been identified as Geeta Paswan. The house collapsed due to heavy rainfall for the last 36 hours. The injured persons, including two children, were admitted at Begusarai’s Sadar Hospital. They said that the roof of the house collapsed due to heavy rain and they were trapped under its debris. The local villagers rescued all of them.

Districts like Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Gaya, Nawada, Begusarai, Madhubani and Sitamarhi have registered continuous rainfall since Thursday morning.

Water-logging has been reported at several places in these districts. An approach road connecting Jai Prabha bridge along the Ganga river between Saran district in Bihar and Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh partially collapsed at the starting point of the bridge.

This led to a traffic cut-off between Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Jai Prabha bridge is part of Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh) to Hajipur (Bihar) road. It is one of the key routes to connect Bihar’s capital Patna to eastern Uttar Pradesh’s districts such as Ghazipur, Ballia, Varanasi, Mau and Jaunpur.

Mamata submits cyclone-damage report to PM Modi, seeks INR 20,000-cr relief package

Kolkata, May 28 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday submitted a report to Prime Minister Naredra Modi on the damages caused by cyclone ‘Yaas’ in the state, and sought a Rs 20,000-crore package for redevelopment of the worst-affected areas.

The state has incurred a loss of INR 20,000 crore due to the cyclone, Banerjee claimed.

“We have sought a package of INR 10,000 crore each for the redevelopment of Digha and the Sunderbans… It could well be that we might not get anything,” she said following an administrative meeting held in the tourist town of Digha.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for around 15 minutes, an official said.

Meanwhile, a release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi has announced a financial assistance of INR 1,000 crore for immediate relief activities.

“Rupees 500 crore would be immediately given to Odisha. Another INR 500 crore has been announced for West Bengal and Jharkhand, which will be released on the basis of the damage.

“The Union Government will deploy an inter-ministerial team to visit the states to assess the extent of damage, based on which further assistance will be given,” it said.

The PM has also declared an ex-gratia of INR 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and INR 50,000 for those seriously injured in the cyclone, the release said.

Cyclone ‘Yaas’ rampaged through parts of India’s eastern coast on Wednesday, killing at least four people and forcing more than 21 lakh people to be evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.