Cyclone Fani toll rises to 37: With 1.56 lakh electric poles to be rebuilt, Odisha asks Centre for help to restore power, telecom services

The state has to install as many as 1.56 lakh electric poles. According to an official, the toll in the cyclone, which hit the state Friday, rose to 37 on Tuesday with two more deaths reported in Cuttack district as the struggle to restore power, drinking water and telecom infrastructure continued. Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday sought the Centre’s help in restoration power and telecom services in Puri and Khurda districts, worst hit by cyclone ‘Fani’, due to shortage of skilled manpower, an official said. “We have sought the Centre’s help in providing skilled manpower to assist Odisha in restoration of electricity supply in the worst cyclone-hit districts of Puri and Khurda,” chief secretary AP Padhi told reporters after meeting with Union cabinet secretary PK Sinha via video conference. @PMOIndia @HRDMinistry — Prakash Javadekar May 7, 2019 Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu extended a helping hand to cyclone-ravaged Odisha and tweeted, “A team of 2055 workers, shift operators and staff from energy department will be deputed for rectification work so that service can be restored at a faster pace.” He also announced an assistance of Rs 15 crore for the cyclone victims of Odisha.