NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Cyclone Fani, which hit India's eastern coastal state of Odisha on May 3, has risen to 64 after 21 fresh deaths have been reported, local official sources said on Monday.
The maximum number of 39 deaths have been reported from the Puri district, followed by nine in Khurda, six in Cuttack, four in Mayurbhanj, three each in Kendrapara and Jajpur districts, Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi told Xinhua.
Most of the deaths occurred in incidents of wall or roof collapse, and fallen trees or electric poles, though the cause of 13 deaths is yet to be known, he added.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the state officials to start assessment of houses damaged in the cyclone. He also demanded a special category status from the central government for his disaster-prone state.
"A special category status was the need of the hour due to the massive loss to infrastructure which may stall growth and rebuilding of the state," said the chief minister.
