ODISHA NEEDS SUPPORT POST-FANI

By instituting a credible cycloneresponse system in Odisha, Fani claimed 64 lives unlike the ‘super cyclone’ that struck Odisha in 1999 and killed around 10,000 people. Nonetheless, the physical damage inflicted by Fani is comparable with 1999 – with an estimated 1.5 crore people affected in 14 districts. In fact, large parts of Bhubaneswar and the entire Puri district remain without electricity as the administration struggles with the colossal task of repairing thousands of kilometres of low-tension power lines and transformers. Similarly, issues of drinking water, food supplies, damage to houses and buildings, limited cash at ATMs and fuel stations, and the destruction of one-third of the state’s crop with 34 lakh livestock, taken together are estimated to be ₹50,000 crore. Odisha requires the Centre and other states to pitch in. Sanjay Chopra, Mohali