After Cyclone Fani, Odisha Is On The Path Of Rebuilding And It Is Not An Easy One

It has been four days since Cyclone Fani, one of the strongest unseasonal cyclonic winds in the Bay of Bengal ravaged parts of Odisha and West Bengal. In Odisha, which was the worst-hit, 37 people lost their lives in the cyclone-related mishaps.

Odisha has been praised from world over for its cyclone preparedness and timely evacuation that saved the lives of lakhs of people in the coastal areas. The massive evacuation drive saw more than 10 lakh people in the low-lying areas being shifted to safer places. Now, with cyclone gone, the state is left to pick the pieces and rebuild lives and a life's savings that have been destroyed in the disaster.

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Lakhs of people are still living in temporary camps as they don't have a house left to go back to. As Odisha slowly begins rebuilding the first priority for the government is to restore the power supply and telecommunication lines.

According to a government estimate, as many as 1.56 lakh electric poles need to be reinstalled post the cyclone. Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi who spoke Union Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha over the rebuilding said the state has requested the Centre to send 5,000 skilled manpower from neighbouring West Bengal, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

AP

Another priority for the government is to restore telecommunication. Most of the cyclone-affected parts are still cut-off from the rest of the country as telephone and internet services have been hit.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik admitted that telecommunication network has completely collapsed in Puri and said the state has urged the Centre to make Mobile Tower on Wheels available in the district to facilitate relief and restoration works. He said lack of telecommunication has adversely affected relief and restoration works.

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Another major challenge the state is currently facing is the displaced people who are living in camps. With roads still cut -off many camps are fast running out of food and water, causing anger among the public.

AFP

According to the government, cooked food was being provided to those who took shelter in cyclone shelters, and community kitchens opened at most slum areas.

Civil society group and NGOs like Khalsa Aid are also providing food and other relief to those affected by Fani.

Contribute to Chief Minister's Relief Fund to bolster our efforts in rebuilding #Odisha after #CycloneFani. Donate by scanning the UPI QR Code or through @HDFCBank_Cares Debit/Credit Card, Netbanking and #PayZapp pic.twitter.com/dR6HQy1RgL

¡ª CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 7, 2019

Donations and relief materials are also pouring into Odisha from across the country.