Cyclone 'Fani' : work underway to restore services

With Cyclone 'Fani' causing extensive damage to telecommunications and power infrastructure in Puri, Bhubaneswar and some other areas of Odisha, the restoration work has started on a war footing.

The railways have cleared the mainline in Odisha and would start part of operations using diesel operated locomotives by Saturday. Flights to Bhubaneswar also resumed operations this afternoon, according to the statement by the Centre here.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on Saturday reviewed rescue and relief operations in cyclone-hit areas of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, a day after the 'extremely severe cyclone' made a landfall in Odisha.

"Odisha informed that extensive damage to telecommunications and power infrastructure had been caused in Puri, Bhubaneswar and other areas. However, due to advance precautionary measures taken and large scale evacuation, the loss of human lives was minimal," an official statement said.

The West Bengal government has reported mild impact of the cyclone, while the Andhra Pradesh government informed about heavy rainfall and some damage to crops and roads in Srikakulam district.

The Ministry of Power and Department of Telecommunications is working with the Odisha government by providing electrical poles, gang workmen and diesel generator sets of varying capacities for quick restoration of power supply.

The Department of Telecommunications indicated that mobile services would also be restored partially. No damage to ports and refinery installations was reported, the statement said.

The Ministry of Health is also sending teams of public health experts to assist the state government in preventing the outbreak of any epidemic.