The Super Cyclone of 1999

 Touched by Bay Of Bengal on its Eastern frontier, Odisha, my state back home in India is prone to Cyclones (counterpart of Hurricanes in North America). The cyclones come churning their way through Indian Ocean before making landfall anywhere on India's vast East Coromondel Coast.

It took my memory back on this day to the month of October, 1999 exactly 26 years ago when arguably the worst cyclone of my lifetime hit Odisha in the form of Category 4-5 winds more than 150 miles per hour (250 kmph) knocking down trees, houses, killing humans and livestocks in several thousands. 

Caught napping and pants down, the inept and corrupt administration in Odisha was unprepared for such an eventuality. It was completely caught by surprise, like a fox in front of searchlight - stunned, stoned and clueless. By the time the hapless authorities could recover and gather strength and resources to launch some semblance of relief and rescue operation, the damage was already done in terms of life, property and reputation.

On that day in America, I was travelling on a new Consulting assignment to the state of Arkansas and just arrived at my hotel when my sister called from Chicago and blasted me in one breath conveying the bad news from home. I rang up my father in Bhubaneswar expecting my call not to go through. It was a pleasant surprised to hear his voice at the other end, as our home phone was back working less than 24 hours after the storm. I was glad my folks were safe and sound, sans couple of fallen Papaya trees in our backyard and lot of coconut branches strewn on the ground.

There was no smartphone or Wifi those days. Face and book were two separate words - juxtaposing them into one entity was strictly fantasy. My hotel lobby had a few computers where I promptly logged into internet via now defunct AOL (America Online). There was a handful of Odia websites those days, but they were yet to carry any news of damage. Probably they were not in a position to carry the news due to the power outage. Only a few web editions of national newspapers provided some glimpse of the horrendous loss of life and property.

The picture got clearer couple of days later as the weather cleared up. National media carried clear pictures of bloated corpses of humans and livestock floating in swamps created by the receding sea water, insects and flies swarming around. Stuck in the debris, there were no dogs, only jackals, crows or vultures left to feed on them corpses. The sight was gross and ghastly, still etched in my memory.

It was rumored that Giridhari Gomango, the Chief Minister of Odisha (equivalent of a Governor in US) at that time ignored the warning about Cyclone based on the advice of his personal Astrologers who sooth-sayed him with confidence not to worry, as the the Cyclone would skip his state. But Odisha took the brunt of the Super Cyclone hitting the heart of Odisha with full force. Gomango took the full brunt of widespread criticism on the aftermath of the great devastation and was subseqently forced out of his job. 

For the cunning, powerful and disgruntled Congress leader JB Patnaik, the man Gomango replaced not long ago the incident was manna dew, an opportunity to score a political goal. He reportedly played some deliberate politics to accentuate Gomango's removal. Previously in power for 14 years he activated his widespread contacts and sleeper cells inside the all pervading Bureaucracy calling shots in Odisha to indulge in tardy distribution of the relief materials, causing further damage to the reputation of the CM Gomango who was soon was unceremoniously removed. 

Since then things have changed a lot over the last quarter of a century. Lessons were learnt from the mistake of 1999. The subsequent administrations led by the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have done a commendable job in disaster management. In meantime technology grew in leaps and bound. Modern day satellites are able to accurately predict and track the path of Cyclones. Time being the essence, prior anticipation and tracking of this behemoth single eyed monster has led to evacuation of public en masse, drastically reducing the casualty. When the ferocious Fani hit the Odisha shore in 2019, nearly a million were evacuated to Cyclone shelters. Though damages to property was extensive but valuable human lives were saved.

What hasn't changed is the corruption in the post cyclone relief distribution which may have gone from bad to worse. As my friend, young man Pravat Pruseth questioned - ୧୯୯୯ ମହାବାତ୍ୟାରେ ଆମେରିକା ସରକାର ପଠେଇ ଥିବା ପାଞ୍ଚ ହଜାର ଟଙ୍କା ମୂଲ୍ଯର ଗୋଟିଏ ଗୋଟିଏ କମ୍ବଳ ଫାଇଭ ଷ୍ଟାର ହୋଟେଲ ଗୁଡିକରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା କେମିତି ? (How come blankets sent by the US government during super Cyclone 1999 manage to reach the 5 Star Hotels) ? There were talks of some of the high quality tarpolenes from America to act as shelter cover of the storm affected public ended up covering the cars of the BADA BADIA (Big Shots) in Bhubaneswar. The relief somehow manages to reach the greedy, not the needy. 

In this context, it is not unusual for another Cyclone named Manthan just hit Southern part of Odisha, now that it is the peak hurricane season in Bay of Bengal. But it wasn't too bad, more like a walk in the park considering a lot of guardrails and safety measures already in place. 

Apart from the ubiquitous improvement in preparedness the following factors have helped in facing the Cyclone menace over the years.

1. Because of the advance technology and satellite imagery the authorities are informed well in advance to plan evacuations ahead of time.

2. Due to improvement in economy, number of concrete houses have gone up to replaced the predominantly thatched, mud hits in villages. Concrete houses can withstand strongest of the stronger wind.

3. Number of media, social or otherwise has gone up. Though they have gone hyperactive for their own TRP and other benefits, they indirectly act as an antidote to complacency, keeping the authorities and the public on their toe which as a benefit in disguise. Alertness helps. Alwaya better be safe than sorry.