Cyclone Fani: PM conducts aerial survey in Odisha grants Rs 1,000 cr more for relief work

New Delhi, May 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conducted an aerial survey to take stock of areas which have been hit by the impact of cyclone Fani and announced additional central assistance of Rs 1000 crore for relief works in the state.

The Centre had earlier released in advance Rs 381 crore for the state.

Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also accompanied the PM for the aerial survey.

He had arrived in Bhubaneswar earlier on Monday and was received by the CM, Governor and Pradhan.

"Naveen babu has planned everything very well and the central government will help him take ahead all of these things," the Prime Minister said while speaking to reporters in Hindi.

Earlier on Sunday, Modi said,"Will be in Odisha tomorrow morning, where I will review the situation due to Cyclone Fani and hold meetings with top officials. The Centre is committed to provide all possible assistance in relief and rehabilitation measures underway."

He said everyone, including the central and state teams as well as in the district and grassroots level, worked with great coordination in the rescue and relief work.

"Secondly, I want to tell the people of this country that the way the citizens of Odisha and the fishermen and women followed the government's instructions was commendable," Modi said.

"It happens that if we ask them to vacate their homes, nobody follows the instructions. This time, the citizens of Odisha have done such a great job and must be congratulated, the fishermen must be congratulated and so the loss of life was minimal," he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Cyclone Fani rose to 34 on Sunday. The extremely severe storm that battered Odisha, caused widespread destruction and left hundreds grappling with water shortage and power cuts. Puri is the worst affected.

The Odisha government on Sunday announced additional one month quota of rice and ₹1000 to families affected by cyclone Fani, as the situation remained critical 48 hours after the storm made landfall in coastal Odisha.