Bhubaneswar, Oct. 15: Roads have been cleared and power is back in most parts of the city.

Life is returning to normality here two days after Phailin hit the state.

While the civic authorities and various other agencies helped evacuate people from low-lying areas and slums during the gale, roads were cleared of hundreds of fallen trees by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officials. Basic civic amenities such as power and water supply were restored within 24 hours in most of the areas.

The Central Electricity Supply Utility had constituted three teams each under three divisions in the city to ensure power supply by cutting fallen trees immediately after the disaster. The Public Health Engineering Organisation has arranged generators for managing water supply needs.

The city residents, who suffered a lot during the 1999 super cyclone, recalled the experience of the past. “We were forced to take water from the sump pits by ourselves as there was no electricity. It took around a week for restoration of emergency services such as water and electricity supply. But, it is because of the preparedness of the authorities this time that these services have been restored so quickly,” said Dibakar Sahu, a resident of Rasulgarh.

This time, the corporation had accommodated more than 97,000 people living in the slums and other low-lying areas at 168 places, including six kalyan mandaps and several community centres. Similarly, eight teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force helped the civic body in evacuation and post-cyclone operations.

“While most of the roads were cleared within 24 hours of the disaster, the civic body has so far managed to clear 74 per cent of green debris. The remaining green debris will be cleared by tomorrow evening,” said municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra.

Though electricity has been restored in various areas including Rasulgarh, Patia and Nayapalli, other areas such as Unit-II, Baramunda and Unit-VIII are yet to get electricity. The city also received a rainfall of more than 150mm creating waterlogging in low-lying areas. Wind blowing at a speed of 112km an hour uprooted scores of trees.

On the other hand, prices of essential commodities including chura and potato have sky rocketed with residents rushing to grocery shops in the wake of Phailin. Long queues, which were seen at petrol pumps on the eve of the cyclone, are not visible anymore.