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Villagers begin rebuilding their lives in Orissa

Manik Banarjee in Nagar (Orissa)

After surviving the super cyclone and its aftermath, Nagar, a village with a population of about 6,000 in Puri district, is limping back to normalcy.

Along with several coastal villages in the state, Nagar was devastated by the October 29 cyclone. While most of the thatched houses in the village were destroyed, 21 people, including many children, besides hundreds of cattle were swept away.

The toll could have been higher but for a cyclone shelter built only six months ago, where about 2000 villagers took refuge. Villagers also took shelter in several pucca houses in the village.

This correspondent, who reached Nagar after traversing a distance of three km on foot and then wading through a couple of rivulets, found a few roadside shops selling essentials.

A student returning from school said his school was damaged in the cyclone, but opened a few days back. ''Though classes are yet to start, I am happy to be attending school again,'' he said.

P K Swain, headmaster of A S Vidyapith, said though the concrete structure of the school withstood the cyclone's fury, the asbestos roofs of most classes were blown off.

''We are trying our best to resume classes, at least for Class X since the school-leaving examination is due in March next year,'' he said A S Vidyapith has 320 boys and girls on its rolls.

Menfolk rebuilding damaged houses is a common sight here. A few were seen ploughing the land as the flood water had receded.

Betel vine is a popular cash crop here. Subodh Sahu (40), who owns a betel vine farm, said the government relief would stop soon. ''If we have to survive, we need to rebuild our lives. Without waiting for outside help we have begun work to rebuild our houses.''

Kailash Chandra Senapati, a prosperous farmer, lost five of his relatives, including a younger brother and nephew, in the cyclone. Most of his 300 cattle too were washed away.

Bhimsen Mangaraj and three young block development officers of Astarang block, which covers Nagar, said the presence of four cyclone shelters had help reduce the casualties.

Mangaraj said post-offices and rural banks had opened in the block. However, it would take at least a couple of months before power could be restored in villages, he added.

UNI

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