Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], Oct. 18 (ANI): In the wake of the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Titli in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to release an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for relief and restoration work.

The Chief Minister, in the letter, stated that the storm and subsequent floods have caused damage and destruction in 17 districts of Odisha, of which Gajapati district has been the worst affected.

Patnaik said that his government has already submitted a Preliminary- Memorandum to the Centre estimating the requirement of funds as Rs 2770.28 crores and seeking the central assistance of Rs 2014.09 crores from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) over and above the funds available in the State Disaster Response Fund for the year 2018-19.

"I would request you to kindly consider the grave situation in the State on account of the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Titli' and its associated impacts and request you to please release an interim assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore to the State to enable taking up relief and restoration works of immediate nature," the letter added.

Apart from this, the Chief Minister said that a total of 57,131 private houses were damaged in the storm while requesting the Prime Minister to consider a special allocation of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMVA).

As many as 57 people lost their lives in different districts and 10 persons are reported missing due to landslides, wall collapse and drowning in the state caused by the cyclone.

On October 17, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik increased ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased affected due to cyclone Titli from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh each.

The Odisha government had also announced to provide advance ration for two months to the people in the Gajapati district. (ANI)

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