Dhenkanal: The hotels and lodges in Dhenkanal town are witnessing cent per cent occupancy as thousands of residents of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are arriving here on a continuous basis in this town in an attempt to shake off sufferings brought along by cyclone ‘Fani’.
Residents of the twin cities are without electricity and facing acute water crisis with the mercury rising. Hence they are choosing this calm and serene district with major tourist attractions since the last three – four days. Proximity and the fact that it has not been much affected by the cyclone are only helping.
While most of them have are staying in hotels and lodges here, many are with friends and relatives.
The hotel owners are raking in big bucks during this unusual ‘peak season’. Hotels like ‘Debakanya’, ‘Shri Krushna Lodge’, ‘Hotel Surya’, ‘Regency’ and ‘Hotel Nirupama’ are said to be filled to their capacities.
“In Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, there is no power or water supply. It becomes even more of an issue owing to the harsh summer. In order to avoid the consequential suffering, people along with their families have come here as it is close by,” observed ‘Debakanya’s’ manager Gyanendra Behera. “The hotels are doing brisk business during these days.”
According to others, there are a number of government officials who have staff quarters here but they preferred to live in Bhubaneswar. They have come back because of the lack of amenities in the state capital at present.
Many others are also coming to this town to buy generators, invertors and diesel even though they are a scarcity in this town itself – at least for the time being.