Paradip, Oct. 12: Hudhud spared the vulnerable coastal pockets of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts of its fury, but tidal waves today inundated several areas in Erasama, Rajnagar and Mahakalpada tehsils.
Intermittent rain and gusty wind have disrupted normal life in both the districts. Lightning claimed the life of Pramod Sethy, 40, a native of Goudbadakuda village in Mahakalpada.
Satabhaya, Kanhupur, Pentha, Batighar, Sanatubi, Badatubi, Nipania and Badiha, Pankapala, Bagapatia, Padmapur, Bangalipada, Barahipur, Balisahi, Rabindrapalli, Magarkanda, Siali, Kalabedi, Sahadabedi villages bore the brunt of Hudhud as tidal waves, torrential rain and strong winds lashed these places.
Sources said over 2,000 hectares of agriculture fields in the affected villages went underwater as tidal waves made inroads, breaching the saline embankment buffer erected about 20ft above the coast. About 12,000 villagers have been left marooned in these villages.
The seawater got the better of sluice gates erected at strategic coastal embankments points leading to the watery ingress, said an official. However, to the relief of the residents and the administration, areas inhabited by human population are safe and free from inundation. Officials expect seawater to recede within the next 24 hours.
The situation is absolutely normal and there is nothing to worry about. Ingress of seawater is a periodic feature in some of the seaside pockets of Erasama block, said tehsildar, Sarat Kumar Purohit.
“We have received reports of ingress of tidal waves into Satabhaya and other areas of Rajnagar tehsil. However, villagers in these areas are safe. We are keeping a close watch on the situation,” said Rajnagar tehsildar Khirod Behera.
However, in Kendrapara district residents did not wait for the administration to evacuate them.
“With cyclone threat gone, we would move out of shelter buildings tomorrow. As the weather is stormy, we have decided to stay tonight before going back to our houses”, said a native of Magarkanda village, Prasant Muduli, who is staying in Okilopala cyclone shelter along with four members of his family.
