Uprooted light posts lie scattered at the Gopalpur park. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Berhampur, Oct. 22: Phailin has destroyed a children’s park that was nearing completion at Gopalpur town.

Ornamental light posts were uprooted and lights were seen scattered on the lawn. Besides, a wire-fencing by the road was also blown away. Several trees were uprooted and found lying in the park. The storm also damaged a number of rides.

The park is located in an open area along the road that heads to the jetty. Initially, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation carried out the park’s construction. But later, it was handed over to the local Notified Area Council in 2011.

“There has been extensive damage to the park. We have not yet started the process to estimate losses here, because our officials are busy in relief distribution and restoration of other essential services,” said the council’s executive officer Ram Chandra Mishra.

He said that in December 2011, the corporation had handed the work of the park to the council, and since then, they had been trying hard to finish it. The state urban development department had sanctioned Rs 31 lakh for infrastructure development of the park, following which the Gopalpur council started the work in April.

“We purchased a children’s ride for Rs 18 lakh and we needed another Rs 50 lakh to develop the park. We were planning to end the construction by August and inaugurate it in September. But, the fund sanction was delayed, and naturally, the work got delayed as well. Now, Phailin has destroyed everything and we have to start afresh,” said an official.

Even seven days after the cyclone, no official had visited the park to make an assessment of the losses. Cattle and horses were seen grazing here.

The park was being built to attract more tourists to the spot by providing amusement provisions for the children. The local urban body had also converted another small patch on the beach into a park by putting up ornamental lights, decorative statues and making seating arrangements there.

“As we are busy at other sites, we have not been able to visit the park. We will talk to the council officials about it and access the loss,” said district tourist officer Sanatan Nayak.