Cyclone Fani: Official death toll pegged at 35 in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The death toll in cyclone Fani that unleashed devastation in several districts of Odisha on May 3 rose to 35 as per reports of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). Highest death toll of 21 has been recorded in Puri, where the extremely severe cyclone Fani had made landfall.

As per sources from State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), deaths have been reported from five districts of the state. Puri has seen the highest number of deaths, followed by Jajpur and Mayurbhanj with four deaths each, while the death toll in Cuttack and Kendrapara is pegged at three each.

However, the actual death toll from cyclone Fani is believed to be far more than the SEOC data, said sources. Due to glitch in communication, reports about death and casualty from different districts have not been registered and may rise.

In fact, late on Monday night, body of a tea seller was recovered from underneath a hoarding uprooted in cyclone Fani in Master Canteen area of Bhubaneswar. The deceased identified as resident of Salia Sahi was missing since May 3 for which the family members had lodged a police complaint.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has changed the Collectors of the cyclone Fani-affected Puri, Khurda, Kendrapara districts. Balwant Singh has been appointed Puri Collector while Bhupinder Singh Punia will take charge as the new Collector of Khurda. Premchandra Choudhary will be the new Collector of Kendrapara.