Naveen seeks donations for cyclone and flood affected

The government has announced 14 days relief comprising 50 kg rice, Rs 500 for dal and a polythene sheet for each family living in very severely affected villages

Hit by Cyclone Phailin and floods, the Odisha government today appealed for donations for the affected people.

"It is our foremost duty to help the people affected by the calamity," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in an appeal to all citizens, central and state public sector undertakings, corporate houses, business and industrial houses, banks and other institutions.

Stating that the very severe cyclonic storm devastated the state on October 12 and 13 resulting in huge loss of public and private property, Patnaik said donations could be sent to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Donations could be sent through cheque, draft, NEFT or RTGS addressed to Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Cyclone-2013), C/o-Joint Secretary (CMRF), General Administration Department, Secretariat, Bhubaneswar, Pin-751001.

Donations could also be sent to S.B A/C No. 33378452680, IFSC Code No. SBIN0006606, State Bank of India, Forest Park Branch, Bhubaneswar.

The donations would be exempt from Income Tax.

Only the State Bank of India has donated Rs 2 crore to the CMRF.

The cyclone and floods affected over 1.2 crore people in more than 16,000 villages and claimed 28 lives. Of the 28 victims, seven perished in floods.

Standing crops on 6,25,408 hectare were destroyed, and 3,76,921 houses damaged.

The state government has announced 14 days relief comprising 50 kg rice, Rs 500 for dal and a polythene sheet for each family living in very severely affected villages and 7 days relief of 25 kg rice, Rs 300 for dal and a sheet of polythene in others.

Patnaik has announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for the families of each of the dead.