Odisha to give ex-gratia to kin of victims of seven more calamities

The Odisha government on Tuesday added seven more state-specific calamities to those for which the families of the deceased will get Rs.4 lakh ex-gratia compensation, said officials.

These calamities are lightning, whirlwind, tornado, heavy rain, drowning, boat accident and snakebite.

The kin of sunstroke victims will get Rs.50,000, said an official of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

Chairing the meeting of the state-level natural disaster committee here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the state government has included eight calamities in the list of disasters and out of these, the relatives of the deceased in seven calamities would get Rs 4 lakh compensation.

With the inclusion of the eight disasters, the total number of calamities for which relief measures can be provided has now gone up to 20, said sources.

Previously, cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack and cold wave were included in the list.

The impending drought-like situation along with floods and cyclone was also discussed in the meeting.

However, the Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra, who attended the meeting, said that instead of relying on data, the government should take stock of the situation at the ground level.

Among others, 14 ministers, five MPs and 24 MLAs also attended the meeting.