A damaged house at Podempeta. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Oct. 8: The impending cyclone is causing panic at Podempeta, a coastal village mostly inhabited by fishermen in Palibandha.

Phailin caused havoc here in October last year, washing away nearly 50 houses along with a cold storage. The village, 8km from Humma Chowk on the National Highway-5, houses 300 families.

“We don’t know what will be our fate if cyclone Hudhud hits the coast near the village again,” said 60-year-old Sesh Adiga, who has witnessed many cyclones, including the super cyclone in 1999 and Phailin in 2013.

B. Gurraya, 55, said two of 80 fishing boats at the village ventured into the sea today. “The fishermen are not willing to take chances, and we have not earned anything in the past two days,” Gurraya said.

Another villager, C.S. Danamma, 60, said: “We will again have to move to a shelter if the cyclone hits our village.”

G. Maseni, 60, who lives with his wife, two sons and one daughter said his family was yet to recover from the onslaughts of Phailin.

“It had damaged my fishing boat, fishing net and my house. The damage is worth more than Rs 1 lakh. I am yet to receive a paisa from the government as compensation.”

“After Phailin, the government had provided us with half a bag of rice and Rs 1,500,” said another villager N. Kamraju.