Kendrapara (Odisha): With Cyclone Phailin apprehended to hit the land at Gopalpur in less than 24 hours from now, the sea has already turned turbulent forcing the fishing vessels that had ventured into the deep sea to return.
Paradip Marine Fisheries Officer Ranjit Keshari Dash said there were no reports of any fishing vessel stranded in the deep sea. Four fishermen were rescued during the day after their motorised vessel capsized near Agarnasi, close to Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika marine sanctuaries, officials said.
These fishermen had ventured into the sea three days ago despite the cyclone warning issued. They were rescued and brought to safety by a vessel dispatched by the marine fisheries department, he added.
Kendrapara district and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur were among the worst affected in the super cyclone of 1999.
Meanwhile, with the wind velocity going up and the sea turning rough, people in vulnerable seaside pockets of Kendrapara district have begun shifting out to safer areas.
Reports said people are fleeing in large numbers from their homes at Satabhaya, Kanhupur, Pentha, Brahmanasahi, Kharinasi, Jamboo, Pitapata, Ramnagar, Batighar, Nipania, Sanatubi Badatubi villages, which are on the sea shore.
These areas have experienced devastation by cyclones from time to time and out of the cluster of seven villages that constituted Satbhaya, only five exist now.
Official sources said the exercise to evacuate the people from the coastal pockets has commenced. "A total 5,200 settlers of vulnerable areas have so far been evacuated. People are volunteering to shift to safety.
"The multi-purpose cyclone shelters, government-run school buildings, the panchayat office buildings are all being put to use for providing shelter to the people in this hour of crisis," said Kendrapara Collector, Niranjan Nayak.
The services of more government officials have been sought for round-the-clock monitoring of the situation, the sources said adding free kitchen for three days would begin from tomorrow to provide food to those taking shelter.
Adequate food material and essential items has been stocked at places where people are taking shelter, the sources said.
"For us, it has become a routine ritual. Sea has been eating up our village almost on a daily basis. Whenever there is formation of low pressure, we move to cyclone shelter. Now the cyclone warning has also forced us to get ourselves evacuated," Nigamananda Rout, a resident of Satabhaya said.
He alleged no government agency had reached the area yet and the people were moving out on their own volition as they are aware of the devastations wrought by the sea.
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