Erosion hit Satabhaya village. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, May 20: Tidal waves caused by the rough weather hit villages of Satabhaya and Kanhupur on Thursday evening. Normal life was disrupted in these villages, which are prone to sea-erosion.

Within hours of the waves wreaking havoc, there were reports of residents shifting to safer areas. Many people in vulnerable Kanhupur village have taken shelter in the local panchayat building while others have shifted to the nearby Okilopala village, located at a higher altitude. Despite the intense vulnerability of the area, no cyclone shelter has come up here yet.

“It has been raining heavily since last evening. The sea has turned violent and the wind speed is picking up. This has caused panic among the villagers,” said Sashmita Das, sarpanch of Satabhaya gram panchayat.

Although the waves have not inundated the villages yet, people are shifting to safer places in anticipation of the sea turning more violent.

“The sea has become turbulent due to the torrential downpour and stormy weather. Tidal waves are making inroads into Kanhupur village. About 50 families from low-lying areas have shifted to safer places,” added the sarpanch.

“We are trying to reach out to the people who have been affected. As the area is sandwiched between a rivulet and the sea, it is inaccessible. However, revenue personnel would still reach the village to extend government help,” said Rajnagar block development officer Brahmananda Behera.

While erosion has consumed nearly two-thirds of Kanhupur village, the adjoining Satabhaya area has been equally hit. Out of the cluster of seven hamlets, which thrived during the 70s, the sea has consumed five.

Experts believe that the seaside hamlets are paying the price of global warming and its impact on climate change.

Alarm bells are apparently ringing in these parts as about 50km of the shoreline, stretching from unmanned isles near Wheeler’s Island to the Barunei river mouth off Paradip coast, is fighting erosion. The sea began eating into the village during the early 70s.

But local residents still cling to their houses in the area as the government-sponsored resettlement and rehabilitation package is expected to take off shortly.