Mission ‘zero casualty’ a success, declares Odisha CM Majhi after cyclone Dana makes landfall

Of the more than 6 lakh people who were evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas and accommodated at cyclone shelters, many have started returning to their homes, officials said. (Express Photo by Sujit Bisoyi)

“Our mission of zero casualty has been successful because of administrative proactiveness and because of timely action taken by the state government. We have successfully handled the cyclone,” CM Majhi said.

Taking stock of the situation after landfall, Majhi said road clearance exercises would be completed by 1 pm Friday and that electricity supply in affected areas would be restored by evening. Flight operations at Bhubaneswar Airport have resumed and train services are expected to be normalised soon.

IMD sources said the cyclonic storm has moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 10 kmph and now lay centred over north coastal Odisha, about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra. (Express Photo by Sujit Bisoyi)

Crops were also damaged by the cyclone, and the CM said collectors of affected districts have been asked to submit damage assessment reports. The government is likely to announce assistance for people whose crops have been affected and houses damaged.

Hailing the state machinery for its successful management of the cyclone, Majhi said this was possible due to administrative proactiveness.

Taking stock of the situation after landfall, Majhi said road clearance exercises would be completed by 1 pm Friday and that electricity supply in affected areas would be restored by evening. (Express Photo by Sujit Bisoyi)

Of the more than 6 lakh people who were evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas and accommodated at cyclone shelters, many have started returning to their homes, officials said.

IMD sources said the cyclonic storm has moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 10 kmph and now lay centred over north coastal Odisha, about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra.

It will gradually weaken into a deep depression, resulting in heavy to very heavy rainfall in northern and interior pockets of the state. Red alerts for rain have been issued in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Puri, Dhenkanal, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, and Angul districts.