News from Odisha

In a blatant incident of lawlessness, as many as three truck drivers had to sustain critical injuries in a murderous attack by some miscreants during a loot bid on Sambalpur-Cuttack National Highway 55 late last night. 

Odisha’s public carrier, ‘Mo Bus’ managed by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has made good use of its Twitter handle to engage public in trivia and games during lockdown.

As the Covid pandemic sweeps across Odisha, the government's massive inoculation initiative for all above 18 years of age to arrest the rising Corona crisis in the State is a laudable effort. However, this ambitious step of the government seems to have hit a roadblock. The lack of internet accessibility and poor telecom infrastructure in several pockets of the State has now evolved as a major challenge for the government in achieving its target of universal vaccination. 

It was in May last year when India was battling the first wave of Covid pandemic and no picture of any vaccine in sight, when the nature struck with super ferocity with a tropical cyclone, probably the strongest the country's eastern coast had faced since two decades ago, the Prime Minister turned his attention fast towards Odisha where the storm had brushed along causing major damages before wreaking havoc in Bengal. 

Chairing the first COVID Advisory Committee meeting, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday sought the advice of top health experts in the country on strategies to tackle the possible future waves of the pandemic.

Naba Das on Friday urged the Centre to allow the surplus vaccines, which the State has in stock for the age group of 45 and above, to be diverted for a short term.

All Public Universities and Degree Colleges will commence operation from June 1 following completion of summer vacation, informed the State Higher Education Department on Friday.

Union Minister of State for MSME, Pratap Sarangi and National Vice President of BJP, Baijayant Panda today conducted an aerial survey of Balasore and Bhadrak districts which were battered by very severe cyclonic storm Yaas on May 26. Both the leaders assessed the damages caused by the storm which made landfall near Bahanaga coast of the district with hostile winds of around 150 kmph and torrential downpour.

The matter came to the fore after the woman constable lodged a complaint in this regard at the Balasore Town Police Station on Friday.

The Odisha government has undertaken restoration of roadways and drinking water supply on a war-footing in all the districts majorly affected by the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas which wreaked havoc in north-coastal and some other adjoining interior regions of the State on May 26.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conducted an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit areas of the State and announced Rs 500 crore financial assistance for immediate relief activities.

The water-level in the upper stream of Subarnarekha at Jamshola Ghat in West Bengal-Odisha border touched the danger-level at around 9 pm yesterday.

Odisha government today sought central assistance to strengthen the infrastructure for a long-term solution to natural disasters especially tropical cyclones during a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here over damages caused by Cyclone ‘Yaas’ that battered north Odisha two days ago. 

The situation at Similipal was brought under control by swift relief and restoration works taken up on war footing by the concerned district administration, NDRF personnel, forest and fire services departments.

A married woman was found hanging from the ceiling of her room at Rohigaan village here under Sadar police station in Ganjam district.