Bhubaneswar: To bolster Odisha’s efforts towards rebuilding and restoration, post Cyclone Fani, Adani Ports and SEZ and ICICI Bank donated Rs 25 crore and Rs 10 crore each to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for people affected by cyclone ‘Fani’, which caused widespread destruction in the state and claimed at least 35 lives.
The Bank of India contributed Rs 25 lakh while Equipage Infracore employees donated their day’s salary for the cause.
Authorities of Adani Ports and SEZ, ICICI bank and Bank of Baroda met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here and handed over the cheques.
Meanwhile, CM Patnaik also donated a year’s salary to the CMRF while Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, also donated a month’s salary to the CMRF in view of cyclone ‘Fani’ which has caused unprecedented damage in the State.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has also come forward with Rs 10 lakh donation to strengthen efforts for rebuilding Odisha.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani, that made landfall at Puri on Friday, was one of the “rarest of the rare” summer cyclones – the first to hit Odisha in 43 years.
With nearly 200 kmph wind storms and incessant rains bringing down trees, power and communications lines and thatched houses, cyclone Fani barrelled through the eastern coast in Odisha near Puri on Friday leaving at least 34 people reportedly dead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has conducted an aerial survey of cyclone Fani-ravaged areas of Odisha and announced an additional central assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for relief works in the State. Earlier on April 29, the Centre had released in advance Rs 381 crore for the State for relief operation.
However, the exact damage caused due to the cyclone is yet to be estimated.
Official sources said the Government of Chhattisgarh has donated Rs 11 crore to the CMRF, while Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu contributed Rs 10 crore each for the cyclone victims. The Uttarakhand government has donated Rs 5 crore. Bollywood Akshaya Kumar also donated Rs 1 crore for the purpose.
