Ex-gratia of Rs 24 lakh likely to be given to kin of Keralites, died in cyclone Ockhi

At least Rs 24 lakh each is expected to be given as compensation to the next of kin of all Keralites who died in the devastation caused by cyclone Ockhi, a Home Ministry official said.

The central government is also likely to release the final financial assistance to cyclone-hit Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep by the end of this month.

While the Kerala government will provide Rs 16 lakh as compensation to the families of the 76 people, whose bodies were recovered, Rs 4 lakh will be given by the central government.

Besides, Rs 2 lakh will be given to the families of the victims under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Rs 2 lakh has already been released from the Prime Ministers relief fund, the official said.

Next, of kin of those who were missing after the cyclone is also expected to receive around Rs 20 lakh, the official said, requesting anonymity.

In Kerala, so far, 76 bodies have been recovered while whereabouts of 144 people are not known.

Also Read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits cyclone Ockhi affected areas in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep

The exact amount of compensation for those who died in Tamil Nadu is yet to be known. At least 14 people lost their lives in Tamil Nadu during the cyclone.

The official said the central team, headed by additional secretary in the home ministry Bipin Mallick, which visited Kerala to assess the damage caused by the cyclone has returned and will submit its report soon.

"After the report is submitted, a final decision on the total amount of financial assistance given to Kerala will be decided, hopefully by January-end," the official said.

Another team, headed by joint secretary in the home ministry, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, has also returned from Tamil Nadu after making an assessment of the damaged caused by Ockhi.

So far, Rs 133 crore each has been given to both Kerala and Tamil Nadu as an interim relief after the cyclone hit the two states. Rs 15 crore has been given to Lakshadweep.

Also Read: 845 rescued, 661 still missing since Cyclone Ockhi: Defence Minister Sitharaman

Cyclone Ockhi had made the landfall in Lakshadweep on December 2 and caused extensive damages to houses, power lines and other infrastructure in the islands and coastal areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.