KV Lakshmana Kalingapatnam and Ichapuram October 14 A strange sense of fearful excitement was building up inside me as I stood some 100 meters from the sea of fury in this fishing village of Kalingapatnam. Yes, we were getting closer to the landfall deadline but still some three hours away when the Clock was striking three. Press from Delhi did the trick, but only after half hour of pleading with the inspector manning a barricade made out of upturned caskets, at 1000 meters from an advancing sea. No orders to allow anyone cross this Sir. Please. Turn back, the police officers words made me think for minute. But then snap of the scenario in the borrowed digital as also the strong desire to smell, touch the danger was getting better of me. My pleadings for a just two minute stay up close was granted amid much chagrin of a group of people wanting to. A wave of lathi was repeated few times to force people away. An hour before the landfall at around 5 pm (eventually it did at 9.30 pm) at this spot -- looked straight out of a Hollywood film -- sea in full fury presenting a frightening face and howling roar of very fast winds and lashing rain adding to the overall scare effect. Taking this is for five minutes I and car driver Manohar Reddy, a young man full of energy, drive and braver than me, thought it wise to retreat. Meanwhile it was getting darker than usual. We retreated some 20 km on the road to Srikakulam. Then to NDRF chief Prashant Dar. Ground reports from his boys spoke of the Cyclone generating raW fear. Dars strict orders to his men - stay indoors. No one moves without a word from me. At 7.30 declares Cyclone passing over Ichapuram, kavity and Vazrapukottur. IMD declares landfall at 9.30 pm Sunday we began tracking the NDRF jawans who cleared roads for vehicles to reach affetced areas. Fallen trees electric poles peppered the area of some 30 sq km. On Sunday afternoon at Ichapuram goverment college that became a cycolone shelter the women and men from neighbouring villages like Domkur, complettely submerged on Saturday, were complaining of over charging by autos -Rs 100 per person for a distance of 12 km. Yes we are back to normalcy -- cheating, greed, indifference and apathy. The same administration that did a commendable job in shifting people, many even at gun point for their safety thought its job was over. The villagers were told they were free to go, now or after lunch. Outside the college gate - familiar scene of arguments and bargainings with auto drivers. Cyclone or no Cyclone - autowala is always an autowala as every reader knows - whether in Delhi or Domkur.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 10:45:12 +0000