After Phailin, Cyclone Hudhud to hit Ganjam district

With Ganjam district being identified as the place to be worst affected by the Cyclone Hudhud that is predicted to hit Odisha coast by October 12,the district administration today decided to evacuate the people in the five coastal blocks.

The people of coastal villages in Ganjam, Chhatrapur, Rangeilunda, Chikiti and Khallikote blocks would be evacuated depending on the severity of the cyclone. "We will evacuate the people of coastal villages prior to the landfall of the cyclone," said district Collector Prem Chand Chaudhuary after a series of meetings with officers of various departments.

Ganjam is one of the four districts in the state likely to affected by the cyclone Hudhud. The district administration would keep watch on the areas, which were hit by Cyclone Phailin on October 12 last year. Phailin had affected all 22 blocks of the district and claimed around 15 lives. District administration was also directed to release the water from different reservoirs as the heavy rains were predicted prior to the landfall. "We have taken all precautionary measures to meet the eventuality. There is no need to panic," the collector said.

But the people in coastal villages and Gopalpur town are in grip of panic. "The damage caused by Phailin is yet to be repaired. The Hudhud will break our economy's backbone," said K Rameya, a fisherman of Gopalpur town. "We pray to God not to repeat such a disaster once again,"said Balaram Panda, an elderly man of Berhampur town, recalling the devastation caused by the cyclones that hit them last year and 15 years ago.