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As Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday held a review meeting post-Cyclone Dana, Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das hit out at the state government and said that the relief measures were not adequate.
Bhakta Charan Das said, "The landfall of cyclone Dana happened in a national park at Bhitarkanika gram panchayat. The national park is located 4 km near the coast. As it was a forest area so the velocity was reduced. There has been extensive crop damage to land of around more than 50,000 acres. There has been loss to paddy crops. The relief measures by the government is not adequate." He further said that there is no electricity although no electric poles have fallen. "In 14 to 15 affected panchayat villages there is no electricity. Generators have been placed only in one 1 to 2 centres. In the relief centres, there are no mattresses for people to take rest. People are living in very difficult situations. CM is doing a review but putting the onus on the TATA company for inadequate relief measures. Why have people been abandoned? There should be immediate restoration work," further added. Earlier today, addressing a press conference, CM Majhi made a review of the situation and said that the state is "safe" and no casualties have been reported due to their 'teamwork.' CM Majhi said eight lakh people have been evacuated so far and restoration of electric wires is underway. He also informed that the officials are facing problems due to continuous rain. "Odisha is safe now. After the landfall of the cyclone, I reviewed the situation, and due to teamwork, we achieved zero casualties. We had evacuated eight lakh people. Many relief centres are still open. Restoration of electric wires is going on. We are facing problems due to continuous rain. Crops of 1.75 lakhs hector have been damaged. Budhabalanga River is flooded but it is flowing below the danger level," he said. The Odisha CM also highlighted that 158 platoon police forces were deployed for the security of people in cyclone-affected areas. "I thank all who are working day and night. They would need to work for another 48 hours," he added. Odisha Deputy CM KV Singh Deo also highlighted that there have been zero casualties and 90 per cent of electricity damage has been restored. "There has been zero casualty. One cattle was reported lost. Restoration works have been done. 90 per cent of electricity damage has been restored. All government officers have done their work properly. We have given instructions to submit their damage reports," he said. According to the latest update by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone 'Dana' is likely to weaken into a depression during the next 12 hours. Cyclone Dana hit the Odisha coast on Friday, uprooting trees, snapping power lines in several areas, and killing a person in West Bengal. The storm made landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph. (ANI)
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