Power supply has been restored in 80 per cent of the cyclone-hit areas of Odisha and will be fully completed by Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to State authorities.
In Cuttack, power has been restored to 70 per cent connections and in Khurdha 65 per cent. However, it will take some more days in the worst-hit temple town Puri, where the cyclone made landfall.
Relief measures
According to Special Relief Commissioner Bisnupada Sethi, power restoration work is in full swing and the State government is taking all steps to provide essential commodities to the affected people. Money is also being given to meet their immediate needs.
It is estimated that 1.65 crore people have been affected by the cyclone in 14 districts, with the number of affected villages put at 18,168. More than five lakh houses have been damaged and the livestock casualty, mainly in the poultry sector, has been extensive.
According to the revised count, 64 lives have been lost — 39 in Puri, nine in Khurdha, six in Cuttack, four in Mayurbhanj, three in Kendrapara and three in Jeypore. The State government has announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the dead and ₹50,000 to those injured in the cyclone.
Special train
According to an East Coast Railway press release, a special train will be run between Bhubaneswar and Krishnarajapuram (Bengaluru) on May 15 for those stranded due to cancellation of trains in the aftermath of Cyclone Fani.
Bhubaneswar-Krishnarajapuram special train (No 06562) will leave Bhubaneswar at 07.30 hours on May 15 (Wednesday) and reach KR Puram at 10.15 hours the following day.