Cyclone Titli deaths: District collectors directed to provide ex-gratia within 3 days

Bhubaneswar: The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed all the district collectors to provide ex-gratia to the families of those who lost their lives in cyclone Titli within three days of death.

Through a letter, SRC Bishnupada Sethi has directed the bureaucrats to disburse the amount and asked Revenue Inspectors and Tehsildars to expedite the process.

"It is instructed that the ex-gratia for death due to approved disasters shall be paid to the Next of the Kins of the deceased within a period of 3 days from the death," the letter reads.

The Odisha government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the Next of Kin of the deceased.

Meanwhile, a review meeting chaired by Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty was held to estimate the damage during the cyclone in Puri.

As per reports, 464 villages of 88 panchayats of Puri were affected during cyclone Titli. While crops were damaged extensively, more than 3 lakh people were affected.

"Nearly 464 villages and more than 3 lakh people have been affected in the cyclone. Estimation of loss is currently underway. Once the final report is ready, ex-gratia amount will be disbursed," the Revenue Minister said.