PM Narendra Modi conducts aerial survey of areas affected by Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal. CM Mamata Banerjee is also accompanying the Prime Minister
After conducting aerial survey of Cyclone Amphan-hit regions in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Odisha where he was received by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The Prime Minister will now conduct aerial survey of cyclone affected regions in the state accompanied by the Odisha CM and other officials.
Earlier in the day, he witnessed devastation done by cyclone Amphan in West Bengal. The Prime Minister arrived at Kolkata airport where he was received by Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
PM Modi issued a statement after reviewing the situation in the cyclone-hit Bengal and announced an advance interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the state.
In a video message after reviewing the situation with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district, PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of those killed during the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan, and Rs 50,000 for the injured. At least 77 people have been reported killed so far in the state due to the extremely severe cyclone.
Large-scale damage to infrastructure, public and private property was reported from North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts.
On Thursday, a PMO tweet said, "PM Modi will conduct aerial surveys and take part in review meetings, where aspects of relief and rehabilitation will be discussed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, earlier in the day, had urged the prime minister to visit the affected districts and provide help to "rebuild those areas from scratch." Cyclone Amphan has claimed at least 72 lives in West Bengal so far.
Lakhs of people were rendered homeless as low-lying areas were swamped by the cyclone that slammed the Digha coast of West Bengal at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, triggering heavy rainfall in various parts of the state. Amphan was the fiercest cyclone to hit West Bengal in the last 100 years.
"We have to rebuild damaged districts from scratch. I would urge the Central government to extend all help to the state," Banerjee said after conducting a review meeting with officials.
"I will visit the affected areas very soon. The restoration work will start soon. A large part of North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata are facing massive power cut since last evening. Even telephone and mobile connections are down," Mamata Banerjee said.
"I have never witnessed such a fierce cyclone and destruction in my life. I would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come and visit Cyclone Amphan-affected areas," she added.
In Odisha, the cyclone has affected over 44.80 lakh people in 1,500-gram panchayats, despite the Odisha government evacuating around two lakh people from vulnerable areas ahead of the landfall. Meanwhile, restoration work is underway particularly in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore, and road connectivity is likely to be restored shortly. But it will take a day or two to fully restore the power supply, an official said.
Though the cyclone did not directly hit Odisha, it uprooted a large number of trees, electric poles and flattened thatched and mud houses as it hurtled towards West Bengal.
(With PTI inputs)
