"October 29, 1999, was the most terrible day for the people of Ersama. The wind blew at 200 km per hour. The sea ingressed into villages with its 20-ft tides. Within a few hours, it devastated everything," recounted Gobinda Giri, a resident of Ersama.
Houses were destroyed, villagers washed away in seawater, trees and electric poles were uprooted, pet animals were killed, and the entire area was virtually turned into a graveyard, said Giri.
Sita Singh of Gadabishnupur lost everything to the Super Cyclone. While all her 18 family members died, she was saved miraculously. She could save her life by holding a buffalo's tail while being washed away in the flash flood caused by seawater and rainwater.
Villagers of Dasamatha, Nalabedi and Junagiri have been observing the day as the death anniversary of the loved ones they lost due to the Super Cyclone. As many as 1250 of these three villages were killed in the Super Cyclone.
"We have been conducting Yangas, Astamprahari and anniversary rituals for our loved villagers," said Shanti Gopal Das.
The Super Cyclone also devastated the State's economy.
However, the footmark of the Super Cyclone is still found in many areas in the Ersama area. Many people are still found living in dilapidated homes. Many villages still do not have roads. Of the 57 cyclone shelters constructed subsequently, 52 are now in danger. Therefore, people are still in shock when they remember Super Cyclone.
Expressing anguish over the earlier BJD government's negligence toward them, villagers hoped that the new Mohan Majhi government would provide all types of support to them.
