Picture : ANI / X
The Cyclonic storm Dana struck the eastern coast early Friday, triggering torrential rain and high-speed winds uprooting trees and electric poles and caused significant damage to infrastructure and crops in some districts of Odisha and West Bengal.
According to PTI, While Odisha claimed that it achieved its ‘zero casualty mission,’ two deaths were reported from Bengal.
As Cyclone Dana weakened into a deep depression and moved westward, authorities launched extensive relief and rehabilitation efforts on a war-footing in the affected regions.
In both Odisha and West Bengal, flights, railways and buses swiftly resumed operations soon after the storm passed as authorities worked to assess and clear any disruptions caused by the cyclone, which made landfall between Dhamra and Bhitarkanika past midnight.
Briefing reporters in the evening, Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari announced damage assessment work will commence on Saturday and be completed within seven days, stating that all major road blockages caused by fallen trees have been cleared and communication restored.
“Those who lost their homes in the cyclone will be provided with pucca houses,” Pujari added, noting that approximately 6 lakh people have been evacuated to safety.
Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, also in-charge of the energy department, said about 95 percent of the affected 33 KV feeders have already been restored, with the remaining expected to be operational soon.
He emphasised that the restoration of the 11 KV network up to the Distribution Transformer level is progressing well. Despite heavy rainfall creating challenges in isolated areas like Jamboo, Talachua, Kandira, and Bagapatia, Singh Deo assured that teams are working tirelessly to restore power supply, and sufficient manpower and materials are available on-site.
