With cyclone Hudhud likely to make its landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on October 12, the memories of devastation caused by cyclone Phailin last year have revisited the people in the south Odisha.
Phailin had made its landfall near Gopalpur in southern Odisha on October 12 last year. 15 people had died and 50 others were injured as the cyclone left its trail of devastation in the region. Ganjam is likely to be the most affected by the new cyclone.
“We pray God not to repeat such disaster once again,” said Mamata Bisoi, one of the corporators in Brahmpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) as she recounted the sufferings of the people of her ward in the aftermath of Phailin.
The residents of a slum pocket here recalled how they spent several days in a nearby school after the roof of their houses was blown off by the cyclonic storm.
“The cyclone and the accompanying torrential rains had practically rendered us homeless. We are still living in the same damaged homes,” said D Parvti, a resident of Khaza Street.
Panic gripped the rural population too, mostly the Phailin victims. “It will be another blow to us if another cyclone hits Ganjam,” said laxmi Das of Jagadalapur outside the town.
Ganjam district Collector Prem Chand Chaudhary, however, said that the administration was making all preparations to deal with the situation.