Mangaluru: Karnataka Minister for Revenue R Ashok on Tuesday said that Rs 106 crore was available with the district administrations of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada for undertaking relief works in cyclone-hit areas.

Speaking to newspersons after a review meeting here, he said that 87 houses had been damaged in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district and 24 among them were fully damaged. All the Deputy Commissioners had been directed to assess the damages, including to roads, crops and MESCOM within a week. The amount would be released immediately as per National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines, he added.

He said that about 20 members of the National Disaster Response Force, 50 of the State Disaster Response Force, 50 civil wardens, 100 home guards and fire service personnel were ready to tackle any eventualities. The DC had set up a 24x7 control room to receive any grievances related to cyclone, he added.

The Minister said that the cyclone had affected 121 villages in 21 taluks across Karnataka. As many as 333 houses had been damaged, eight lives were lost, 644 electricity poles and 104 boats had been damaged.
A compensation amount of Rs five lakh will be paid to each of those whose houses have been fully damaged. Rs one lakh will be paid to owners of the houses that have been partially damaged while Rs 10,000 will be paid to owners of those houses which have been surrounded by sea water," he said .

The Minister thanked the Indian Coast Guard and Navy for saving nine lives on board the tug, after interacting with the five survivors on board the India Coast Guard ship berthed at New Mangalore Port.
He visited the cyclone-affected Sasihithlu beach and other affected areas.