Cyclone Titli, flood: CM forms Ministerial panel to monitor rescue, restoration operations

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today constituted a three-member Ministerial panel to monitor the relief, rescue and restoration operations in cyclone Titli and flood affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts. The panel comprising Revenue minister Maheshwar Mohanty, Urban Development Minister Niranjan Pujari and Energy minister Sushanta Singh has been asked to visit the three districts to monitor the relief rescue and restoration operations. Even though very severe cyclonic storm ‘Titli’ did not cause much damage to Odisha, the resultant rains led to severe water-logging in the State, Ganjam being the worst affected district. The situation in Gajapati and Rayagada districts has also remained grim. Earlier today, the Chief Minister took stock of the situation after holding discussion with the Collectors of the three affected districts through videoconferencing and directed them to expedite rescue and relief operations. He instructed the Collectors to shift the affected people to safe places and provide free kitchen to them for seven days. He also asked them to submit the damage assessment report within a week. Two choppers of Indian Navy from Vishakhapatnam will be pressed into action in Aska and Purusottampur blocks in Ganjam district from today to expedite the relief and rescue operations, said Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi after the review meeting.