Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced a special package for the cyclone-hit districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada after making an aerial survey of these areas for two and a half hours.

Naveen said: “All affected families of Ganjam, Gajapati and Gunpur sub-division of Rayagada will be given relief for fifteen days. On an average, a family of four members will be assisted with more than Rs 3,000 as relief. This is at the rate of Rs 60 per adult and Rs 45 per child per day.”

Naveen exuded confidence that connectivity would soon be restored in the cyclone-hit areas. “Connectivity will be restored in all cut-off areas within next 48 hours,” adding, “electricity supply to 90 per cent affected areas will be ensured in next 48 hours and the remaining ten per cent in three to five days”.

Naveen also said: “Safe drinking water will be provided in all blocks within 48 hours. All tube wells will be repaired by Sunday. In the next 24 hours, water supply will be restored in all urban areas. Generator sets will be used wherever required.”

The chief minister said he was waiting for the detailed report of the damage caused due to the cyclone and said agriculture had been badly hit because of it. “House damage and crop damage assessment will start once immediate relief and restoration measures are completed,” he said.

Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi also held a review meeting on Saturday. “We have already opened free kitchens at places where the affected people have been sheltered. Airdropping was done in the affected areas,” he said.

He said: “Restoration of drinking water facility is in full swing. We have disinfected the tubewells. However, maximum damage was noticed in Aska and Purushottampur towns of Ganjam district. We expect that electricity would be available in these towns by Saturday evening. Road connectivity has been badly hit in Gajapati district. We will soon repair the roads.”

However, the Opposition continued to attack the state government for its failure to deal with the calamity. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik tweeted: “Appalling! More than 32 people have died & more than 6 million are affected in Odisha due to Cyclone & flash floods, his Govt has been caught napping again despite several warnings, YET CM @Naveen_Odisha continues BLATANT display of his NARCISSIST behaviour without any remorse.”