Jagatinshpur/Kendrapara: As the 1999 Super Cyclone completes 18 years October 29-30, hundreds of victims are still haunted by its painful memories. People are yet to come to terms with the chilling reminder of the devastation caused by the killer cyclone, which is yet to get erased from their minds.
It was on this day, the cyclone with a wind speed of 200-300 kmph struck the coastal districts of Orissa making it the greatest cyclonic disaster ever recorded in the last few centuries.
It completely changed the topography of many districts by midnight, dealing a severe blow to the state’s economy. The high wind not only washed away thousands of hectares of cultivation, but also claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Thousand of houses were washed away in the flood. Agriculture, horticulture, handloom and textile industries, water and irrigation and water supply departments had suffered huge losses. Hundreds of schools and colleges were badly hit, crippling education in the districts. Electricity supply had gone haywire for three months making it the darkest period for the state and people.
The aftermath of the nature’s fury is still deeply etched in the memories of the survivors as they prepare to observe the 18th death anniversary of near and dear ones. For example:
Woman lost 24 family members
Erasama: The worst hit village, Nagari Gaon, just 11km away from this block in Jagatsinghpur district, witnessed the death of 276 people of 64 families. One could feel goose bumps, if one recalls the incidents, reminiscences Jamuna Phandakar who lost 24 members of her family.
She witnessed them being washed away in the tidal surge in front of her eyes. It is difficult for her to forget the way her family members were snatched away by the furious nature. The trauma of the loss is still intact.
She held her 2.5-year-old (then) son closely to her as she was washed away in the flood. Luckily, she got tucked under a tree and had to spend three days and nights with poisonous snakes before being rescued. Though she survived on tree leaves, she could not save her son.
“Now, I am left with no family, no relatives,” says Jamuna with tears rolling down her cheeks. She is visibly distraught recounting the moments of the killer cyclone.
Similar was the condition of Menaka Sasamal of Baghadi village under this block. She lost her son and sister-in-law and was left behind with her grandchildren with no one to take care of.
The elderly woman, along with her husband, works as a daily labourer to take care of their grandchildren. Adding to their woes, her granddaughter has kidney ailment. Financial constraints have stood obstacle for her treatment.
Till date, they haven’t received a piece of land or a house under government schemes. A thatched muddy house made of bamboo has been their only source of shelter in all these years.
Coming to terms with life
Mahakalapara: Survivors of the killer cyclone have made every effort to move on but are not able to wipe out the painful memories and nightmarish experience. At least 26 people of Tenthulikandha village under Mahakalapara block in Kendrapara district lost their lives.
Tapaswini Senapati, who was 16 at that time, gets goose bumps as she tries to recall the night of horror. It was Friday, incessant rain and high speed wind hit the coastal villages. Nine members of her family got out of their house to take shelter in a two-storied building.
A school wall collapsed on them right in front of Tapaswini’s eyes killing them all. She was washed away in the flood and luckily got tucked to a tree. She stayed there helpless for three-four days till the water level dropped.
Then, she slowly crawled to a sugarcane field in the village from where she was rescued. The girl had to bear all hardships to move on in life. She opened a small shop in the village and re-started her life.
Similar is the fate of many people in the coastal districts. The cyclone had claimed 11,966 human lives and devastated properties worth thousands of crores. But many victims are yet to receive ex-gratia from the government. PNN
