ODISHA CYCLONE REHABILITATION PROJECT
LET US EASE THE BURDEN OF THOSE AFFECTED AS WE CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
While many were celebrating the festive season this October, the coastal population in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were preparing to face a deadly cyclone, the strongest to hit the states in 14 years.
Cyclone Phailin hit Gopalapuram, Odisha, on the night of October 12, causing massive damage in the Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts. The districts of Balasore, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Cuttack, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Bhadrak were also affected.
Sterling work by the Central and state governments, which reacted with lightning speed to the early warning signs, ensured the evacuation of close to 1 million people before the cyclone could do its worst. But, while the death toll stands at only 30, extensive damage has been done to almost 300,000 kutcha houses and 500,000 hectares of standing crops, leaving the surviving communities extremely vulnerable. With rehabilitation work underway, they are in desperate need of food, water purifying tablets and temporary shelters.
We appeal to all those concerned to reach out to the survivors by donating generously to the Care Today Fund. Care Today Fund is set up by the India Today Group to support people and communities in distress.