Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will visit the cyclone and flood-ravaged Odisha anytime after the Diwali holidays. He was supposed to visit the state on November 2, but that plan was cancelled earlier. During his visit, the PM will take an aerial tour of Ganjam district, which was completely devastated by the cyclone and floods earlier in October.

According to Odisha Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, the PM will hold meeting with senior state government officials in Bhubaneswar to take stock of the situation and make the assessment on the losses caused by Cyclone Phalin and subsequent floods.

The Odisha Government has sought Rs 5,832 crore from the Centre to deal with the crisis. The PM may announce a package after meeting the state government officials. It is not immediately known whether he will meet the Congress leaders in the state or not.

The PM’s visit will come close to the heels of a four-day visit by the 11-member Central team, which toured Ganjam, Puri, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts and praised the rescue and relief operations conducted by the Odisha Government.