Mahakalapara: Even over 300 people were left dead and several hundreds injured in a tsunami in Indonesia, back home the Sunday calamity has sparked panic among the seaside residents of this block in Kendrapara district.
The disaster has sent shockwaves throughout the world as rescue workers are still scouring for survivors in the rubble.
As Mahakalapara block is close to the Bay of Bengal, the fear of its residents is not unfounded. Moreover, the district administration has identified 18 villages under this block as tsunami prone. This has made the residents uneasy and they do not feel safe staying in these villages with calamity fears lurking at their doorsteps.
The administration has installed tsunami warning systems in 107 villages. However, the residents feel these warning systems are not enough for their safety. They alleged that the administration except identifying the tsunami prone villages and installing the warning systems has done little to make the people aware of the extent of damage the calamity might cause if it takes place in their area and the safety measures to be taken by them.
The tsunami warning systems were unveiled by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via video conferencing October 29, this year. However, the district administration has not taken up any awareness programme to sensitise the people about tsunamis.
“Who will promise us that a calamity like the devastating tsunami that hit Indonesia will not take place in our area?,” the villagers asked. They further said, as the region has been identified as tsunami prone, the occurrence of the calamity may not be ruled out in the near future as the impact of climate change is being felt all over the world.
Tsunami warning systems have been installed and made functional in the coastal regions of the block like Rathapanka, Kandrapatia, Narasinghpur, Jambu Uttarpada School, Jambu Lock, Kajalpatia, Barkolikhola, Badatubi and in Mahakalapara.
Former sarpanch Manoj Kumar Patra of Suniti panchayat said the fear of the calamity could be greatly reduced among the residents if the youth, women, voluntary outfits and the district administration could take up awareness programmes for sensitising the residents.
PNN
