The two south Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have offered to lend their support to the state of Odisha, which has been hit by Cyclone Fani, causing widespread destruction to human lives and property.
In a letter to Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, on May 4, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his solidarity with the people of Odisha who are facing the consequences of the cyclone, that has ripped through the coastal districts of the state.
“Government of Kerala and its people offer all assistance including sending of medical teams, providing fire and rescue services and electricity personnel if you deem any of them necessary,” the Kerala CM stated in his letter to Naveen Patnaik. The Kerala Government has also offered to provide provisions, clothing, tarpaulin and other essentials as per the numbers given by Odisha government. “I have asked our State Relief Commissioner to be in constant touch with your state authorities to render any assistance that may be required,” added Pinarayi Vijayan.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government on Sunday announced an immediate contribution of a sum of Rs 10 crore from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the Government of Odisha.
TN CM, Edappadi K Palaniswami, in a statement, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family members of all those who lost their lives in the cyclone and rains. “The Government of Tamil Nadu stands ready to render any other assistance as may be required by the Government of Odisha,” added the TN CM.
It’s been two days since Cyclone Fani made a landfall in Odisha, and while the government has managed to keep the death toll low by undertaking evacuation on a war footing, many areas have been severely affected by the cyclone. The office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said massive relief and restoration work was underway to provide basic facilities – electricity, water supply and mobile connectivity – to the affected people.
Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu are two states which have been hit by natural disasters in the recent past. Cyclone Ockhi had caused huge destruction to certain areas of both the states. Tamil Nadu was hit by Cyclone Vardah and Kerala witnessed devastating floods in August 2018.