Admn readies to evacuate people from cyclone zone

The district administration of Ganjam, which is likely to suffer the worst impact of cyclonic storm Hud Hud, has decided to evacuate people in five coastal blocks ahead of impending landfall by the cyclone.

People of Ganjam, Chhatrapur, Rangeilunda, Chikiti and Khallikote would be evacuated depending on the severity of the cyclone, said a senior officer.

"We will evacuate the people of coastal villages before the cyclone hits the coast," said Ganjam collector Prem Chand Chaudhury after a series of meetings with the officers of the different departments.

Hud Hud is expected to make landfall on October 12 near Gopalpur in Ganjam district where cyclone Phailin made its landfall exactly a year ago. Ganjam was the worst hit district in last cyclonic storm and this time too, it is likely to be affected.

The district administration would keep a watch on the areas that were hit by Phailin, which had affected all 22 blocks in the district, claiming around 15 lives.

The district administration has been directed to release water from different reservoirs amid forecast of heavy rain ahead of strike by the cyclone.

"We have taken all precautionary measures to meet any eventuality," Chaudhury said.

But people in the coastal villages are panic stricken following the cyclone forecast.

'The damage caused by Phailin is yet to be repaired. The Hud Hud will break our economic backbone," said K Rameya, a fisherman in Gopalpur. "We pray to God not to repeat such disasters again," said Balaram Panda, a senior citizen in Berhampur. He recounted the impact of Phailin and the super cyclone of 1999 that tore apart normal lives.