Venezuela, July 6: Retired IAS Officer & former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s confidant VK Pandian on Monday visited Venezuela reportedly to take stock of the devastation caused here by a series of earthquakes.

VK Pandian after assessing the tremendous loss of lives and settlements, shared his disaster management expertise and firsthand experiences with Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez that he effectively practised in Odisha while managing the pre & post-cyclone situations in the state,for prompt rehabilitation & resettlement in the earthquake-hit areas.

Pandian, during his visit in & around the earthquake-affected areas in the Venezuela city, assessed the rescue and recovery efforts, taken up by the Venezuela government. He interacted directly with the affected people and emergency response teams on the ground.

Pandian praised the Relief Teams at work during his go-round with the victims waiting for humanitarian aid and assistance. Meanwhile, Pandian evaluated the ongoing operations and spoke with the survivors about their immediate needs and the challenges they do face. He also consulted frontline responders about their challenges and success stories, fighting in the difficult conditions.

Pandian appreciated the dedication and commitment of all personnel engaged in relief operations during this challenging time. Their tireless work impressed him deeply as they delivered aid efficiently despite the tough circumstances.

Pandian & Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez later discussed on the situations  and on how to address them.Meanwhile, they exchanged ideas on disaster response strategies. 

Worth mentioning,Pandian was working as former CM Naveen Patnaik’s Private Secretary & 5T chief during his tenure in Odisha.