Central team begins assessment of Cyclone Arnab damage in Odisha
An eight-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team is visiting southern Odisha to evaluate losses from the cyclone and subsequent flooding.
An eight-member central team began a two-day visit to southern Odisha on Tuesday to evaluate the impact of Cyclone Arnab and subsequent floods, according to The Federal. The team, led by Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary Ravi Shankar, is inspecting areas in the Gajapati, Ganjam, and Kandhamal districts.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated the team will examine damage across various sectors, such as power, water, roads, infrastructure, and agriculture. The group visited Gajapati on Tuesday and is scheduled to visit Ganjam on Wednesday.
The deployment follows a request from the Odisha government after Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. The findings from this on-ground assessment will help determine the amount of financial assistance the Centre provides to the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state has already conducted a preliminary assessment and will submit its report to the Centre. He noted that the final assistance package will be decided based on the team's findings.
The state government has announced a special package for affected families and farmers. This includes Rs 2,500 in cash and 50 kg of rice for every affected family, while families with destroyed homes may receive up to Rs 1.30 lakh depending on the terrain.
The central team includes representatives from the ministries of finance, agriculture, rural development, power, and road transport and highways, as well as ISRO.