Cyclone Fani: Tamil Nadu pitches in with Rs 10 crore aid to Odisha

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday ordered the release of Rs 10 crore to the 'Fani'-ravaged Odisha towards relief and rehabilitation work.

The severe cyclonic storm has caused unprecedented and extensive damage in Odisha, especially in the holy town of Puri, Palaniswami said adding it has led to untold suffering of the people.

"On behalf of the State government and the people of Tamil Nadu, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family members of all those who have lost their lives in the cyclone and rains," he said in an official release here.

Odisha was faced with the arduous task of ensuring immediate rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures in cyclone-ravaged areas, he noted.

"As a token of support and solidarity of the government and people of Tamil Nadu with the government and people of Odisha in their hour of need... I have ordered immediate contribution of a sum of Rs 10 crore from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the Government of Odisha," he said.

Also, the Tamil Nadu government is ready to render any other assistance as may be required by Odisha, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also made the contribution from the Uttar Pradesh state relief funds to help people affected by cyclone Fani that hit the state on Friday.

On May 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Central government released Rs 1000 crores in advance to Odisha and other states to deal with the devastation caused by cyclone Fani.

"I am in regular touch with these states. Rs 1,000 crore for relief work has been released as advance to deal with the situation. I want to assure that the whole nation and the Centre is with all those families and governments," PM Modi had said while addressing an election rally here.

The severe cyclonic storm Fani with a wind speed touching nearly 200 kmph made landfall at Puri coast on May 3 wreaking havoc in Odisha.

Rescue and relief operations have been mounted on a massive scale in Odisha in the aftermath of the devastation caused by the cyclone.