Cyclone Fani-affected residents hit streets alleging lack of assistance

Jagatsinghpur/Puri: Cyclone Fani affected residents of Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts today staged road blockades at several places protesting lack of administrative assistance in the aftermath of devastating cyclone Fani.

Hundreds of irate locals in Biridi block of Jagatsinghpur district blocked Jagatsinghpur-Kandarpur road at several places, including Dogachia, Anakhia, Balia, Biridi and Hajipur alleging that no relief material has been supplied to them.

“The local residents are protesting as the administration failed to provide assistance after the devastating natural calamity. We demand the district administration to enlist us under fully-affected category and provide relief for two months,” said a protester.

Later, the road blockades were called off after Jagatsinghpur sub-collector, Sadar SDPO, Biridi BDO and Tehsildar assured the irate locals of relief within two days.

The residents of Biridi block had gheraoed the block and tehsil office yesterday as well.

Similarly, in Puri district, residents resorted to road blockade at Beleswar on Puri-Konark Marine Drive Road alleging lack of compensation and relief after the cyclonic storm.  The road blockade resulted in hundreds of vehicles getting stranded on both the sides the road.

Later, the protest was withdrawn after Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty, Puri BDO and police personnel reached the spot and held discussions with the resenting locals.

Similar road blockade was also staged by locals at Matiapada Level Crossing in Puri demanding adequate relief for them.