KOLKATA/BHUBANESWAR/NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced interim central assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to West Bengal and Rs 500 crore to Odisha after an aerial survey of the devastation wrought by cyclone Amphan, especially in south Bengal, where the death toll was revised to 86 after government agencies were able to reach areas inaccessible for two days.
On his first trip outside the national capital since the countrywide lockdown started, PM Modi said the loss of lives, homesteads, infrastructure and standing crops were a double whammy for Bengal after being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Staying home and social distancing are the safeguards against corona, whereas moving out from homes and reaching safer places are advisable in case of a cyclone. The state had to fight the two challenges together. However, West Bengal, under Mamata ji, has tried to fight strongly,” he said in an eight-minute video message from Basirhat in North 24-Parganas district.
Expressing solidarity with Ben