Cyclone Phailin hit the state of Odisha in India this weekend, killing around 21 people. Citizens are feeling grateful that the damage was less than expected, since the last powerful cyclone to hit India’s coast killed 10,000 people. Despite the outcome, residents of Odisha were tense, waiting to see what damage would be caused by the storm.
“I felt like I was going to die, everyone was so tense,” said Raju Pradhan, a state resident. Pradhan and 900,000 other residents were evacuated from their homes and taken to shelters just before Phailin hit. Preparations were extensive, as no one wished to repeat the events of the last cyclone, which caused $2 billion in damage. Prabir Panda, a resident of Bhubaneswar, said that the evacuations were a necessary precaution, even though “there exists a cultural feeling that we normally don’t move out of our houses whatever the cause.” He added: “This time, the government ensured people are forced to move out.”
Phailin brought winds of 140 mph and pouring rain, which flooded roads and highways. Trees and power lines were also brought down, and authorities say that it could take up to a week for people to get their power back. Crops were another concern when cyclone Phailin became a reality, and houses made of mud, bamboo or other natural materials may have been lost all together.
By Monday, many of the people still in shelters had gone home, but some parts of the state are still in need of help. One village reported a lack of food and water, and they were concerned about the possibility of more flooding.
