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12 Oct 2014 (10 am). From Puri (in Odisha) to Visakhapatnam (in Andhra Pradesh), down the same coast, exactly a year later, this is no Déjà vu – this is real. Positioned even closer to the Bay of Bengal, from dawn I have been watching the intensity of the wind and rain increase. But more importantly, from the two-storey hotel's rooftop, I can see the Indian Ocean and the series of high waves (getting taller all the time) come pounding onto the Beach Road which will be flooded soon.
During Cyclone Phailin last October, I had likened the ocean to a “cauldron of boiling water” and it’s much the same this time, except that the waves are coming in a linear manner right now. Once Cyclone Hudhud makes landfall around 3 pm today (about 5 hours from now) it might be once again a ‘cauldron’ out there.
One has reason to be more worried this time, than during last year’s Cyclone Phailin. Last year, the world record-breaking evacuation in Odisha ensured that there were minimal casualties. This time, the Andhra Pradesh government has also seriously got into action. They have stocked up with relief material at relief camps in government schools and colleges across the coast. It's a pity that many of the numerous cyclone shelters built over the years (at least one in every coastal village) are not in a posiition to be in service when needed -- due to numerous avoidable reasons. Till yesterday afternoon, there was a great reluctance among people, especially the fisher folk to be evacuated, and the buses and other transport provided by the state government was not used by many people. It must be noted that for families and children to move certain amenities, apart from ration, water and medicines, must be planned too.
As I type this blog, the sound of the rain and wind is getting scary. I only wonder what will happen once the cyclone arrives and how those people who live in weaker constructions than the hotel I am in, are coping with this, especially the children.
Save the Children has an ongoing Disaster Risk Reduction programme with its local partner (Nature) in 10 coastal villages, where children in classes 1 to 5 participate in mock drills and other games and exercises to contend with a day like today. This is what will perhaps make a difference – and the government (at the state and national levels) needs to seriously incorporate a child-centric plan for rescue, relief and rehabilitation. It can never be too late to embark on this critical initiative!
(From Monday, the Inter Agency Group (comprising several national and local NGOs) will conduct a rapid assessment over the next 72 hours – let’s pray that the need for relief will be minimal)
d.tak@savethechildren.in
