Odisha government today sought Rs 4,242.41 crore from the Centre towards repair and restoration work following the devastation caused by Cyclone Phailin and the subsequent flood.        

"The state government has given a memorandum showing a loss of Rs 4,242.41 crore due to the cyclone and the floods. The damages are substantial...I have visited a limited areas in cyclone-hit Ganjam district," Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.        

"We will examine the memorandum given by the state government before releasing assistance to the state. I have suggested to the Odisha chief secretary to take advantage of different central government schemes for long term rehabilitation of the affected people," he said.        

Both the state government and central government had worked in tandem which resulted in reducing human casulty in the calamity, Goswami said, adding his priority was to set up an inter-ministerial team comprising representatives of different central ministries which would soon visit the state and access the damage.