Odisha Government to use drones for tracing 4,000 spotted deer missing in the aftermath of Cyclone Fani

Odisha government on Tuesday decided to use drones to locate about 4,000 spotted deer who are missing from a sanctuary in Puri district following Cyclone Fani, an official said.

Most of deer of Balukhand-Konark sanctuary, which is spre over 72 square kilometres between Puri and Konark towns, could t be located after extremely-severe cyclone me landfall in coastal district at 200 kmph on May 3, official said.

"We could find only one carcass of a spotted deer so far after a thorough search inside sanctuary. However, re is trace of or animals," said A K Mohapatra, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), wildlife.

deer generally come out of ir hideouts at night in search of food, but forest officials searched for animals during daytime and could t find m, Mohapatra said.

Drone cameras will be used to locate deer as it could be more fruitful, official said.

"Since carcass of only one deer is spotted, we believe that ors are alive, though t ticed during search in daytime," Mohapatra said.

Forest officials said large number of cashew trees in sanctuary might have protected deer. sanctuary h been stripped of its rich flora by cyclone.

sanctuary acts as a buffer for coastal areas from high-velocity winds, but it h been completely destroyed, said Bhimsen Das, a forest officer.

divisional forest officer h conducted a review meeting on Sunday to assess dam and next course of action. sanctuary, where antelopes and jackals are also found, is w closed to visitors.

WATCH: "Cyclone Fani Damd Our State, But t Our Spirits": Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Urges People To Contribute For State's Relief Effort

Meanwhile, entire Puri district and hundreds of vills in or districts were without electricity even 11 days after cyclone Fani devastated coastal Odisha, killing at least 64 people, officials said.

People in many parts of coastal region hit streets on Tuesday demanding power restoration. Puri district bore maximum brunt of cyclone which me a landfall in Odisha on May 3.

"We have restored power in most places except Puri district. Restoration of power in Puri is a big challenge," Information and Public Relations Secretary Sanjay Singh told reporters in Bhubaneswar.