20th anniversary of 1999 super cyclone tomorrow: the course of the cyclone was “diverted”, but the devastating disaster had taken a toll of over 10 K human lives

SUBRAT DAS Bhubaneswar, 28/10: The tragic memory of the super cyclone that had rocked the state on October 29-30, 1999 is still fresh in the memory. The devastating disaster had taken a toll of over 10,000 human lives across the state and had ravaged the state’s economy. {"id":19637,"width":575,"height":355} The weather alert had spread panic among the people. This scribe, who was then working as a reporter of The Statesman, rushed to the chief minister’s official residence (the building is now housing the grievance cell of the present chief minister) to know about the update and how the state administration was prepared to face the impending disaster. {"id":19638,"width":582,"height":412} Giridhar Gamang was the chief minister of Odisha at that time. I was called in by him. But I was surprised as Mr Gamang seemed relaxed. When asked about the reason of my visit, I wanted to know the updates of the impending disaster. “ Don’t worry, I have diverted the course of the cyclone through tantric powers”, Mr Gamang told me with a smile. He was surrounded by a couple of godmen and astrologers at that time. {"id":19640,"width":587,"height":376} I came back assured. But the weather condition grew severe from time to time. The sky over the state capital was dark and the cyclonic storm grew more and more turbulent. Then the electric and phone connection got snapped. Sitting at the office along Mahatma Gandhi Marg, I then remained incommunicado. My family members frantically tried to contact me.  But in vain. {"id":19641} My concern was how to file the news and send it to the editorial desk at Calcutta. As there was no internet connection, I rushed to the Central Telegraph Office at the PMG Square nearby to fax the typed copy. But I was disappointed as the telephone connection had snapped there too. {"id":19642} I rushed to the office to intimate my colleague about the situation. It was difficult to recognise his office-cum-residence ( a two storied government quarter along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg). All the coconut trees had been uprooted and the news papers stacked in his room were lying blown by the wind. When we were brooding how to send the news to our editorial desk, we heard a good news, which was a flicker of hope for us. We heard that two satellite phones, one installed at the chief minister’s official residence and the other one installed atop the Central Telephone Office building, were working. {"id":19643} We rushed there with joy. But the direct telephone line to Calcutta was not available. We had to dial our News Editor’s residence through ISDN via London and dictated the story. Oh, we were then relaxed ! {"id":19644,"width":590,"height":295} On return to my home, I could not recognise the Janpath and my house near Rajmahal Square. The road side trees and the electric poles had all uprooted and blocked the road. Back home, my family members then stared at me with surprise. By that time, my younger brother and a neighbour had searched me frantically at the Capital police station and Capital Hospital. They had lost their hope. {"id":19645} When my dumb-founded family members saw me, tears rolled down their cheeks out of joy. My one year-old son was looking at me curiously. {"id":19646} But we could not sleep that night. The cyclonic storm remained static around the Bhubaneswar sky for more than twenty four hours. It was roaring like sea tide. {"id":19647} Soon after the morning broke out, I rushed to Paradip by a rented car. I had to face food riot on the way. I had to go to Paradip through the Express Highway as the Cuttack-Paradip road was almost blocked by the uprooted trees and electric poles. {"id":19648} When I reached Paradip sea beach, I was awe-struck. Hundreds of bodies were lying on the shore, for mass cremation ! Wails of  bereaved rented the air ! For the next few days, I had been visiting the worst-hit Ersama and Paradip area to see the trails of disaster and hear heart-breaking stories.