West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday submitted a report
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the damages caused by Cyclone Yaas in the
state and sought a Rs 20,000-crore package for redevelopment of the
worst-affected areas.

Also read: Took his permission: Mamata Banerjee on skipping PM Modi’s cyclone review meet

PM Modi flew down to Odisha earlier in the day to review the post-cyclone
situation, and then made his way to Bengal, where the storm caused devastation
in the coastal districts, PTI reported.

The state has incurred a loss of Rs 20,000 crore due to the cyclone,
Banerjee claimed.

Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Medicines afloat as rainwater enters Patna’s Jai Prabha Hospital. Watch

“We have sought a package of Rs 10,000 crore each for the
redevelopment of Digha and the Sunderbans… It could well be that we might not
get anything,” she said following an administrative meeting held in the
tourist town of Digha.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for around 15 minutes, an
official said.

Meanwhile, a release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said Modi has
announced financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for immediate relief
activities.

Also read: 10 photos that show the trail of destruction left behind by cyclone Yaas

“Rupees 500 crore would be immediately given to Odisha. Another Rs
500 crore has been announced for West Bengal and Jharkhand, which will be
released based on the damage caused.

“The Union Government will deploy an inter-ministerial team to visit
the states to assess the extent of damage, based on which further assistance
will be given,” it said.

The PM has also declared an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of
the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the cyclone, the
release said.

Also read: Watch: Cyclone Yaas lashes Odisha, West Bengal with wild waves, strong winds

Cyclone ‘Yaas’ rampaged through parts of India’s eastern coast on
Wednesday, killing at least four people and forcing more than 21 lakh people to
be evacuated to safe shelters in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Heavy
rainfall was reported at several places under the impact of the cyclone in all three
states on Thursday.