Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced Rs. 1000 crore advance assistance to West Bengal in the wake of cyclone Amphan. He made the announcement after making an aerial survey of affected areas with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. The cyclone has caused at least 80 lives so far.
He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the natural calamity and Rs. 50,000 for those who sustained serious injuries.
Speaking after an administrative review meeting with the Chief Minister and other senior state government officials at Basirhat in North 24 Paraganas district the Prime Minister said that Banerjee had given him a detailed estimate of the damages caused by the cyclone.
“ A Central team will arrive in the state and conduct a survey of the affected areas. Together we will work on rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction. We will extend our full cooperation to West Bengal in these testing times,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister praised Mamata Banerjee and her government for their effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and dealing with a natural calamity like the cyclone.
“West Bengal is fighting two different battles at the same time. Despite that under the leadership of Mamata ji the state government ha made a commendable effort,” said Modi. He was speaking in presence of the Chief Minister.
He said that while to fight a pandemic one needs to stay indoors unless its an emergency but to survive a cyclone one has to shift to a safe place at the earliest possible.
Speaking to media persons after the review meeting the Chief Minister said that the state has suffered losses of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore due to the cyclone. She also said that most of the areas they surveyed were severely damaged by the storm adding that she has briefed the Prime Minister about the extent of the damage.
“ They (Centre) should send a team for the survey at the earliest possible and give (finical assistance) whatever they can,” said Banerjee.
Union Ministers Debasreee Chaudhuri, Dharmendra Prasdhan, Babul Supriyio were also present in the meeting.
“Maintaining social distancing is one of the key features of fighting a pandemic but dealing with a cyclone requires people to move to safer places as soon as possible,” said Modi.
He made the announcement after the review meeting in presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Earlier in the day, they took an aerial survey of the affected areas. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was also with them.
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