Phailin: Rehabilitation is a bigger challenge now, says Naveen Patnaik

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik thanked all the government employees, rescue teams and the media for their effort in helping the Odisha government battle Phailin, one of the worst cyclonic storms in recent years. He said, “I thank all of you who have helped in the successful evacuation of nearly nine lakh people and reduced loss of human life. This has been one of the largest rescue operations in the country.” [caption id=“attachment_1169277” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Naveen Patnaik. PTI. [/caption] He thanked all the stakeholders of the rescue operations, especially the gram sarpanchs of the villages and the government employees who had to cancel their festive holidays for the rescue operations. Though there were minimal casualties reported, property across the coastal areas of Odisha have been destroyed. “Rehabilitation is even a bigger challenge than evacuation and we will see to it that we can do it in the shortest possible time,” he added.