Puri, May 4: The cyclonic storm Fani left a trail of destructions in the Holy City after it made landfall here Friday morning. Thousands of trees and many utility poles were uprooted by the gusty winds that reached 180 km per hour. Several kuccha houses at Penthakata, Baliapanda and Ramchandi slums were destroyed by the winds and heavy rains, locals said.
Almost all the roads and streets in the city were blocked with uprooted trees and broken branches.
According to locals, at least five feet high waves lashed the beach during the storm surge. Vehicular traffic was disrupted on Bhubaneswar-Puri, Puri-Konark and Puri-Satpada national highways (NHs) due to uprooting of several large trees. The boundary walls of District Collector’s residential office, Ayurveda College, SCS College, government ITI, DAV Public School, Government Women’s College and several hotels were damaged by heavy rains and winds.
“At least 50 fishing boats went missing in the sea. Several traffic posts in the city were also destroyed by the strong winds. A person received severe injuries when a private bus overturned at City Road. The cyclonic storm has damaged several structures at city railway station,” said a police official.
According to sources, an elderly woman was crushed to death when a wall collapsed at Devighat Bhoi slum. Severe water logging was also reported from the Grand Road (Badadanda), VIP Road, Reserve Ground, State Bank Square and Belabhumi Marg in the city. Electricity and telecom services were disrupted in the Holy City and other parts of Puri district, sources said.
Collector Jyotiprakash Dash said, “Steps are being taken to restore communication facilities. We are trying to repair damaged utility poles and resume electricity supply. We have taken all possible steps to avail basic services to people staying at cyclone shelters,” he added.