Bhubaneshwar, Aug. 30 -- Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state remains highly vulnerable to natural calamities and highlighted coastal and riverbank erosion as major challenges.

Speaking about the recent disaster in Nepal, Pujari told ANI on Saturday that the devastation was a manifestation of nature causing extensive damage to human lives and property.

"What we saw in Nepal is the manifestation of nature causing huge damage to human life and property. Odisha, for that matter, is a state very much prone to natural calamities," Pujari said.

He said Odisha's 573-kilometre coastline is facing soil erosion, while erosion in rivers connected to the sea has also emerged as a major concern.

"The 573 kil...