Gamang told The Indian Express that the response from Andhra Pradesh, particularly, was ``overwhelming'' with the State already despatching relief material for the affected people besides manpower to assist the rescue and rehabilitation operations.

Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu -- N Chandra Babu Naidu, Jyoti Basu and M Karunanidhi, respectively -- were in constant touch with him and were volunteering every kind of support, Gamang said.

Stating that Orissa needed a minimum Rs 500 crore for relief alone, Gamang added that Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has assured him all possible help.

He said that the Prime Minister had asked him to spend freely on relief operations assuring him that the Centre would keep extending aid as per the demand. Gamang has asked for a central grant of Rs 500 crore immediately.

TheCentre has sanctioned Rs 100 crore grant and another Rs 200 crore towards plan advance over the Rs 250 crore plan advance sanctioned for the Ganjam cyclone. Gamang said never in the past had the Centre had sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crore for any natural calamity. He however, parried questions whether he was happy with the Central assistance.

``The quantum of Central grant should match the devastation and loss. We need grant for relief and rehabilitation whether you declare it is as a national calamity or not,'' he noted. He has also requested the Centre to appeal to international bodies for help.

The State government has urged the Centre to airlift 10 million metres of polythene, 1500 tonnes of parched rice 100 tonnes of jaggery and dry food for three days relief.

Gamang said the assessment of loss of life and property had yet to be made as most of the affected areas were still cut off. While he had reports of nine deaths in Cuttack, two in Nayagarh, eight in Mahakalpada so far, the toll according tohim, is expected to be very large in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts where the gale speed reached 300 km per hour.