Chhatrapur: The district administration Tuesday prepared the final report detailing losses suffered in Ganjam district due to the severe cyclonic storm Fani. Even as there have been no reports of any casualty due to the natural disaster, the district witnessed the worst tragedy in the form of crop loss and house damages after the 1999 Cyclone.
It was least expected that Fani would have such a bad impact as there was no much loss during Titli and Hud Hud in Ganjam. So, many people had taken it easy and were not prepared for such a magnanimous force.
As per the reports, the district has accounted a total of Rs 107.53 crore loss due to the natural calamity. Presiding over a meeting, district Collector Amrut Kulange took stock of the reports.
More than 2,673 villages of 22 blocks in the district were heavily damaged during the cyclonic storm. At least 20 lakh people have faced severe losses. The worst sufferers were farmers of the district.
Standing crops of a total of 6.25 lakh hectare have been damaged amounting to Rs 2.34cr loss for farmers and vegetable growers. Moreover, at least 1,300 families have been rendered homeless as their houses were blown away on the impact of the rainfall that was accompanied by the gusty surface wind that made its landfall in Puri.
While 51 houses have been completely damaged, the remaining 1,144 both pucca and kuccha houses are partially damaged. The house damages were put at a total of Rs 1.90 crore loss.
On the other hand, more than 52 domestic animals were claimed to have been perished during Fani, out of which 17 are big animals while the remaining 35 are small ones. Moreover, 4,897 chicken were declared dead in the calamity.
The report was prepared by revenue officials and tehsildars after visiting the affected villages in the district. While the preparedness of the district administration has prevented any kind of major tragedy, locals here have expressed resentment over delay in providing compensation to the affected persons.
The affected, mostly farmers demanded immediate compensation and assistance for the next cultivating season.
In the meeting were additional district magistrate, Revenue, Laxmikant Sethi and other senior officials.