(Top) Building of the Berhampur University damaged in Cyclone Phailin and (above) trees lie uprooted on the campus. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Oct. 21: The varsity campus here bears telltale signs of devastation that Cyclone Phailin has inflicted on it. University officials have estimated that damages would surpass Rs 60 crore.

Ever since the October 12 storm hit the sprawling 250-acre campus, Berhampur University officials are struggling to set things in order.

Tall trees lie uprooted and quite a few buildings have also faced the wrath of nature, forcing authorities to close the varsity till November 4.

Fortunately, however, most students and employees were away for Puja vacation when the might winds blowing at over 200kmph wreaked havoc.

“Many infrastructure, including my office, bore the brunt of Phailin. There were very few students in the hostels and none was hurt. They were evacuated the following day. However, three deer were killed in their enclosure on the campus,” said Deepak Behera, vice-chancellor of the university.

The restoration work got under way the very next day with government officials visiting the varsity for damage assessment.

“We have asked the public works department officials to conduct audit of all damaged structures. We do not want to take any risk and put the lives of students in jeopardy. If need be, we will extend the vacation period further,” said Behera.

Officials of public health engineering organisation (PHEO) have been trying to restore water supply on the campus, while the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) officials and three teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (Odraf) have been deployed to remove uprooted trees and clear the roads.

The cyclone has also ripped through the university’s 22-year-old sports complex, damaging all modern equipment. The complex had been renovated only two years ago in which a gymnasium with instruments worth Rs 50 lakh had been installed.

“The asbestos roof and pucca walls of the building collapsed under the impact of the strong winds. Everything was shattered. It will take time to start sporting activities here,” said Bhagaban Sahu, secretary of sports council of the varsity.

Many overhead tanks were blown off. So was the asbestos roof of an upgraded Middle English school located on the Bhanja Vihar campus.

“The children of the university staff and nearby areas study in this school. But it has suffered at least 95 per cent damages. We have informed higher authorities about it and the school will remain closed till November 5,” headmistress of the school Nirupama Agrawal said.

To ensure that normality return to the campus fast, the V-C said he was ready to outsource restoration work.

“We want the electric cables to go underground so that next time something like Phailin hits, they will not be affected,” Behera said.