Impact of cyclone Phailin minimized by good planning: Jay Panda

A systematic approach towards averting damage from Cyclone Phailin has contained the number of casualties to seven, said Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda. He also praised the disaster preparedness of various government departments that helped avert major human casualties.

The super cyclone that had hit Odisha in 1999 had resulted in over 11000 deaths, he added.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Panda said that the number of casualties was much lower than what it may have been thanks to the fact that lakhs of people had been moved to cyclone relief centres. He added that severe damage had been reported in Odisha. “We can be sure that damage is much less, and is connected only to property. Relief will also be seen in full swing shortly”, he added.

He also said, “Doctors, medicines and food has been kept ready. There are a dozen helicopters on standby. Relief workers are already clearing trees.”

He said, “Major parts of southern Odisha are still cut off . We have information that there is danger of flooding in Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur. There has also been severe crop damage in Kendrapara.”