The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Sunday sent his appreciations to the Chief Minister of Odisha for effective evacuation efforts when it was hit by cyclone Fani. His Holiness in addition to that sent his prayers to losses incurred and made a donation to support the rebuild.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Indian state of Odisha since Phailin in 2013. Fani originated from a tropical depression that formed west of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean on 26 April. It reached peak intensity on 2 May, as a high-end extremely severe cyclonic storm, and the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 major hurricane.
According to reports, at least 56 people have been killed by Cyclone Fani; 34 in Odisha, 8 in two districts of Uttar Pradesh, and 14 in eight districts of Bangladesh. In Odisha, a teenager was killed after being hit by a falling tree. One woman died when she was hit by flying debris, and another died of a heart attack while in a cyclone shelter.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, to convey his appreciation of the efficient precautions he and his government have taken to evacuate people to safety to avoid the ravages of Cyclone Fani, with the result that casualties have been relatively low.
“At the same time,” His Holiness has written according to the report in website of his office, “I would like to express my sadness about the lives that were lost, the devastation of property, and the hardship this storm has caused to so many people. I offer my condolences to those families who have lost loved ones and my prayers for the welfare of everyone affected by this huge cyclone.”
His Holiness expressed his appreciation that relief efforts are underway and that everything possible is being done to help those affected. As a mark of solidarity with the people of Odisha, he has made a donation from the Dalai Lama Trust to the efforts to provide relief and rebuild.