Cyclone ‘Yaas’: Odisha CM To Conduct Aerial Survey In Worst-Hit Regions Today

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of cyclone ‘Yaas’-hit regions in Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak district in the afternoon today.

He will observe the post-cyclone restoration and relief works from the air in affected areas. The Chief Minister is also scheduled to review the restoration works by NDRF, ODRAF teams and electricity department staff.

The Chief Minister has assured early restoration of electricity and also directed the top officials to undertake the operation in this regard on war footing.

The ex-gratia and compensation for loss lives and damage to properties might be announced after the survey. He might declare some special packages for affected regions as well.

As many as 128 villages including 84 in Balasore and 48 in Bhadrak has been hit hard by the cyclone Yaas that crossed the coast in Balasore district in the form of a very severe cyclonic storm.

The cyclone which has already weakened into depression left a trail of destruction in the coastal districts of Odisha.

Bhadrak and Balasore districts are the worst hit regions where widespread vegetation, thatched houses, power lines were damaged. 

Houses in low-lying areas were flooded with rain water.
The high tidal waves breached the seashore and inundated villages, homes and farmlands with saline water.

Tidal waves towering over 12 ft high reportedly swept into villages between Talasari and Udaypur as well as from Chandipur to Balaramgadi.
Areas like Bhogarai, Baliapal, Bahanaga, Nilagiri, Balasore Sadar, Basta and Jaleswar bore the maximum brunt of the tidal waves where thousands of kutcha houses were reportedly damaged apart from hectares of farmland and prawn gherries.