Bhubaneswar,December 15: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the telephone for the release of central assistance for cyclone ‘Titli’-hit areas of Odisha.

The Centre has already released financial aid for Titli-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh. However financial assistance for Odisha is yet to be released.

According to official sources, Patnaik and Singh today discussed the issue over the telephone. The Union Home Minister has also assured the Chief Minister that funds will be released immediately for Odisha.

On Thursday, the Odisha CM had urged the Centre for immediate release a financial assistance of Rs 2023.13 crore against the total requirement of Rs 2779.32 crore for relief and restoration measures in districts affected by cyclone ‘Titli’.

Notably, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Titli’ of October 2018 with associated flood and landslides had severely affected a vast population of about 60.31 lakh in 128 blocks under 17 districts of Odisha.