Cyclone-weary residents move out of coastal villages

KENDRAPADA: Hundreds of villagers began to stream out of the seaside village of Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts, as Cyclone Amphan intensified into a ‘super cyclone’ on Monday.
Kendrapada collector Samarth Verma said villages under the Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks were being evacuated of people and the exercise would be completed by Tuesday afternoon.
“We are working with the sarpanches and other panchayat body members to help people prepare for the cyclone.The coastal areas of the district are regularly hit by cyclones and everyone is taking this threat extremely seriously. A total of 117 cyclone shelters, apart from other structures, are ready. Two teams of NDRF and ODRAF have been deployed in the district,” Verma added.
Fishermen have been asked not to enter the waters. “We have deployed power boats for relief and evacuation. We are using mikes to warn people of the danger. The authorities have also stocked up on dry food and rice and kept medical teams and ambulances on standby,” Verma added.
In Jagatsinghpur, the gram panchayats of Satabhaya, Gupti, Talachua, Rangani, Pentha, Jamboo, Kharinashi, Kansarabadadandua and Suninti are on high alert. “We know the ferocity and the brute force of the sea. Nobody here is taking any chances,” said Basant Rout of Pentha village.