Protests Reported As Millions Without Power, One Week After India Cyclone
Sumaira FH Published May 11, 2019 | 08:41 PM
Millions of people are living without power or shelter in eastern India, a week after a devastating cyclone hit the region, officials said Saturday, as reports emerged of angry survivors protesting over the slow pace of relief
At least 42 people lost their lives in India's Odisha state and neighbouring Bangladesh after cyclone Fani barrelled into the region on May 3, packing winds of up to 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour.
"The destruction has taken place over a very large area. The damage to power infrastructure is unprecedented," Bishnupada Sethi, special relief commissioner of Odisha state, told AFP.
Sethi, who is overseeing relief efforts in Odisha, said that the cyclone affected around 16.5 million people in the state.
"Half a million houses have been damaged, 8.7 million livestock affected (dead, injured, missing, displaced), 3.7 million poultry birds are dead and we are still making efforts to restore the (entire) telecommunication network," he said.
Officials said that power had only been restored to around 50 percent of the one million residents in the state capital Bhubaneswar, while the most extensive damage hit the neighbouring city of Puri, where the cyclone made landfall.
Puri, which is home to around 200,000 people, is also one of the country's most important Hindu pilgrimage sites including the ancient Shree Jagannath Temple and the Sun Temple.
A team from the Archaeological Survey of India is currently assessing the damage to both the World Heritage monuments.
"The damage has happened over a very big area but we have... already restored the water supplies to pre-cyclone levels. Even the road and communication network has been restored. All our resources from across the country are deployed on the ground," Sethi said.
But local media reports said the situation on the ground remained dire, prompting survivors to protest over the sluggish pace of relief efforts.
"We were scared as angry demonstrators threatened and tried to attack us," N.K. Sahu, a power utility officer told the Press Trust of India on Friday after protesters tried to storm his office, demanding the restoration of electricity.
India has earned praise from the UN and other experts for the speedy evacuation of 1.2 million people in the powerful storm's path and minimising the loss of life.
Improved forecasting models, public awareness campaigns and well-drilled evacuation plans -- backed up by an army of responders and volunteers -- saw Odisha's inhabitants spared the worst of Fani's fury.
In 1999 the same state was hit by a super-cyclone that left nearly 10,000 dead.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From World
-
China warns Blinken over deteriorating ties in talks
1 minute ago -
Famine-threatened Sudan's 'race against time' to plant crops
11 minutes ago -
Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue
31 minutes ago -
Man City crush Brighton to close gap on Arsenal in title race
31 minutes ago -
Atletico face Bilbao challenge in Champions League race
41 minutes ago -
Man City in title groove as Arsenal face Spurs test
41 minutes ago
-
Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists
1 hour ago -
Pakistan needs strong defence in view of its location in 'rough' neighbourhood: Masood Khan
1 hour ago -
Bangladesh children sweat at home as heatwave shuts schools
1 hour ago -
Iconic shared Olympic gold moment will not be repeated, says Barshim
1 hour ago -
Bangladesh children sweat at home as heatwave shuts schools
2 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
2 hours ago