APPEAL AND UPDATE ODISHA CYCLONE REHAB PROJECT Details of Impact

O n the night of October 12, the coastal populations of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh faced a deadly cyclone, the strongest to hit the states in 14 years.

Cyclone Phailin made landfall at Gopalpur, Odisha. The Odisha districts of Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Koraput, Balasore, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Cuttack were also affected. Subsequent flooding caused massive damage in Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda and Gajapati districts.

Sterling work by the Central and state governments, which reacted with alacrity to early warning signs, ensured that close to a million people were evacuated before the cyclone could do its worst. But while the death toll stands at a mere 30, over 300,000 kutcha houses and 500,000 hectares of standing crops suffered extensive damage, leaving surviving communi- ties 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, set up by the India Today Group to support people and communities in distress. Population affected 8 million-plus Total blocks affected 99 Total gram panchayats affected 1,895 Total villages affected 145,014 Urban bodies affected 39 Kutcha houses partially/completely damaged over 300,000 Crops destroyed 500,000 hectares Number of people dead 30

Donors in India operating on rupee accounts are requested to draw cheques & DDs in favour of “Care Today A/C Odisha

Cyclone Rehabilitation Fund”

Donors outside India operating accounts in currencies other than the rupee are requested to draw cheques and demand drafts

in favour of “Care Today Fund”

For details on donation through

bank transfer, please send an email to balaji.singh@intoday.com