Cyclone Phailin: PM announces interim relief of Rs 1000 cr

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore each for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for relief and rehabilitation in the wake of destruction caused by cyclone Phailin.

The total quantum of assistance to the two states will be finalised after consideration of the on-the-spot assessment report of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team, an official statement said here.

In addition, Singh has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

Earlier today, a delegation led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had called on the Prime Minister and presented a memorandum regarding the losses suffered owing to the impact of cyclone Phailin and the subsequent heavy rains and floods in the state.

On October 12, Phailin, a very severe cyclonic storm, said to be the second strongest after the disastrous super-cyclone of 1999, struck the Odisha coast, bringing in its wake torrential rains and wind speeds of over 200 kmph in the state and in the neighbouring north coastal Andhra Pradesh.