The strongest tropical cyclone to batter India after 20 years made landfall in Odisha, paralysing several thousands of lives and damaging innumerable properties on its way. Over 11 lakh people were evacuated from the state of Odisha for Cyclone Fani’s landfall.

The cyclone has uprooted trees, flattened crops and damaged homes, destroyed power and telecommunication infrastructure. At least 1,50,94,321 people have been affected in 14 districts–Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh and Puri. Totally, 159 blocks, 52 ULBs, 16659 villages, 5,08,467 houses and 87,39,657 livestock were affected and the number of livestock casualty was 34,56,362 in the powerful tropical storm, as per the Situation Report released by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). The devastating cyclone has shaken the backbone of coastal Odisha and killed the hope and dreams of people in rural as well as urban slums. Daily wagers were out of cash as they were confined to their houses, taking care of families.

The cyclone has damaged almost all the kuccha houses, polythene roofed houses, tin and asbestos roofed houses in the area and made more than 60% families homeless. The major source of income from coconut orchards has been devastated making more than 35% people out of their livelihoods. The most vulnerable section of the affected community includes the women, the children, the elderly people and the persons with disability. Sanitary and hygiene conditions are extremely poor in the affected slums as toilets have been collapsed and damaged. Families have lost their household belongings (clothes, utensils, food grains etc) under the collapsed structures. Children have lost their study materials and their books, notebooks, pen, and pencils have been crushed into pieces. They have been deprived of food and drinking water since days. (Source: reliefweb.int)

The SEESHA disaster response team coordinated with the District Administration at Bhubaneswar for Cyclone Fani relief operations at Odisha. SEESHA reached out to address the immediate survival requirements of the cyclone Fani victims and to support the rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.

As part of our intervention, dry rations comprising of food materials for one month was distributed to 230 underprivileged families residing in Rasulgarh slum at Bhubaneswar district. SEESHA team also distributed relief materials comprising of dry rations for a month, basic sanitary and wound care kit to 70 families residing in Ramakrishna Leprosy colony.

SEESHA disaster response Team’s timely intervention in the cyclone relief work has been appreciated by the Odisha local authorities and SEESHA continues to assist in the relief activities and rebuilding these vulnerable people’s lives.