Cyclone Phailin was not the 'super cyclone' it was feared to be.

However, it has left a long trail of destruction that will take a long time to recover from. The worst hit was the Ganjam district of Odisha, where the cyclone landed on Saturday. Over 200,000 hectares of agricultural land and 200,000 houses have been destroyed, as per the state government. Power transmission was also crippled in the district as 40 transmission towers were eradicated by the cyclone's fury. Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts were severely affected by heavy floods, and rescue operations are going on. In Balasore alone, 300,000 people are stuck because of the flooding. In Andhra Pradesh the damage was less, but still considerable. Coconut plantations across 3,200 hectares in the Srikakulum district have been damaged and power supply affected. However, power supply is being restored shortly and roads have been cleared for transportation. Areas Affected by Cyclone Phailin Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati. Cyclone Phailin: Relief and Rehabilitation Cyclone Phailin may have faded from the attention of the media, but it has left a long trail of destruction. For people of Odisha trying to rebuild their lives, it's a major challenge as rehabilitation and restoration work starts. According to the state government, the damage to educational campuses alone amounts to Rs. 300 crore. This includes 50 institutions of higher education. In terms of immediate relief efforts, the state government has announced a 14-day package, which includes 50 kg rice, Rs. 500, and a sheet of polythene for families in the severely affected areas. For others, it has announced a 7-day package containing 25 kg rice, Rs. 300 and a polythene sheet. Help from European Commission

The European Commission has announced a donation of 96,748 euro towards rehabilitation efforts in Odisha, where over 15,000 families were affected by the cyclone. The funds were released to Red Cross International after the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) made an appeal for the same. The aid will be utilized in providing clothes, shelter, drinking water, and other needed supplies for the affected.

Other

donations

Help is pouring in from all quarters as the state fights its way to normalcy. The Odisha Mining Corporation donated Rs. 50 crore for the cause. An equal contribution has been made by Coal India. The Odisha Hydro-Power Corporation and Odisha Power Generation Corporation donated Rs. one crore each. The Chief Minister has written to the centre, asking an advance of Rs. 1,000 crore, while the ASSOCHAM has urged businesses operating in India to come forward and donate for the cause. Cyclone Phailin Aftermath 14th October 2013 A day after the 'super cyclone' Phailin hit the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the worst seems to be behind us. Thanks in part to the preparedness of the state governments, and in part to the behaviour of the cyclone, the death toll stands at 23, much below than initially feared. Damage done by Cyclone Phailin The total loss to crops in Odisha is being estimated at Rs. 2,400 crore as over 500,000 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed. According to the government, over 8.37 lakh people were evacuated and 2.34 lakh houses damaged. In total, 14,514 villages in 12 districts were affected. Although the damage to property is yet to be assessed officially, the Chief Minister of Odisha said, "Property to the tune of several crores has been damaged". The state of Andhra Pradesh seems to have come out largely unscathed. Economic Impact

Power in much of Andhra Pradesh has been restored, and the state is running a 9,000 MW load as against the normal value of 10,000 MW. Odisha still has a lot of ground to cover, with only 600 MW of the total 2,800 MW restored. The railway network in Odisha has been crippled in many places. Overbridges, platform shelters and overhead equipment have been damaged in many areas. Trains on the Bhadrak-Khurda Road-Palasa-Vizianagaram line have been stopped. Major train routes that pass through Odisha, such as the Kolkata to Chennai line, are expected to be affected. The biggest challenge now remains the rehabilitation of the displaced. In the words of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, "We have been successful in minimising

the loss of lives. Now rehabilitation is a very big challenge for us as property worth several crores of rupees has been destroyed. I will see to it that the people are actively rehabilitated." Cyclone Phailin's intensity decreases confirms Indian Meteorological Department 13th October 2013 The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the intensity of Cyclone Phailin has decreased after it made landfall at Gopalpur in Odisha, around 9.15 pm on Saturday 12th October. IMD officials confirmed that by 5.30 am on Sunday 13th morning the windspeeds had reduced to 160-170 kmph. Phailin is still a "very severe cyclonic storm", however, the preparedness of the government authorities and the mass evacation of more than 500,000 people has ensured that loss of life was avoided. The evacuated people have been temporarily housed in cyclone shelters, schools, temples, and buildings that can withstand the cyclone's fury. Cyclone Phailin is now centred near Phulbani town in Odisha. Cyclone Phailin is expected to moved northwards and weaken further on Sunday. By noon on Sunday, as windspeeds lower further (80-90 kmph) it would become a cyclonic storm and a deep depression (windspeeds 50-60 kmph) by Sunday evening. Heavy rain is predicted over Odisha for the next 24 hours and the following day. North coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal would also receive significant rainfall over the next 48 hrs. Odisha: Cyclone Phailin's swirling winds have uprooted numerous trees and caused significant flooding in several districts in Odisha. Ganjam district in Odisha, adjacent to the border with Andhra Pradesh, is the worst affected, having borne the brunt of the cyclonic storm. Heavy rains and surging waves have caused severe flooding and extensive crop damage in coastal areas of Ganjam district. Bhubaneshwar had no power supply last night and people in Behrampur woke up to the sight of numerous cars toppled over by the force of the gale. Odisha reported 7 deaths prior to Cyclone Phailin's landfall, as a result of collapsing walls and buildings under the onslaught of the heavy rain. The Odisha government is holding a damage assessment meeting this morning. Andhra Pradesh: No casualties have been reported from Andhra Pradesh. The state experienced heavy rainfall in its coastal areas, and flooding is reported in 20 villages in Srikakulam district. Some damage to fishermen's boats and nets has been reported from Srikakulam. Two jetties have been damaged in Vishakhapatnam. All 56 trains on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route were cancelled yesterday. These trains are not likely to run today either.

National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams are out in Andhra Pradesha and Odisha to assess the damage on the ground. Power lines and roads have been affected across both states. Numerous trees have fallen as a result of the cyclone, bringing down power lines and obstructing roads. Road connectivity is expected to be restored fully within 12 hours. The sea will continue to be rough off the coast of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, the IMD predicts and has warned fishermen not to venture out to sea for the next 24 hours. 12th October 2013 The effects of the cyclone are already being felt in Andhra Pradesh. Powerful winds are blowing at the rate of 130 kmph. From Ichchapuram to Palasa, power lineshave been crippled. Jharkhand is also making necessary preparations as the state is expected to receive very heavy rainfall because of the cyclone. In Odisha, Indian Air Force's biggest transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster, has reached Bhubaneshwar. Ten choppers are also standing by for rescue and relief operations. As per US authorities, the cyclone is generating winds blowing at 314 kmph. In order to maintain safety of railway passengers, all trains on the VisakhapatnamHowrah line have been cancelled. Previously, evacuation was in full swing, as 44,000 people were evacuated in Puri, 24,900 in Jagatsinghpur, 22,430 in Ganjam, and 4,000 in Kendrapara. October 11, 2013 After remaining stationary for some time, Cyclone Phailin is going to hit the boast of Bay of Bengal tomorrow. It is expected to arrive with destructive winds blowing at over 200 kmph, with some experts giving an estimate of 300 kmph. According to the Odisha government, the cyclone will affect over five lakh people. The Washington Post has opined that it could be as destructive as Hurricane Katrina. Affected districts In Odisha, the districts estimated to be most affected are Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur. In Andhra Pardesh, these will be Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam. Disaster relief and rescue

Defence Minister A. K. Antony has already given a heads-up to the Armed Forces, telling them to gear up for rescue operations. Two National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams have been stationed in Bhubaneshwar. All in all, 28 such teams are active in the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Air assets kept on standby include two C130J aircraft, 18 helicopters, and 2 AN32s. The Eastern Air Command has also been asked to help with relief operations.

Evacuation process has already started in Andhra Pradesh, with about 65,000 people being moved from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam districts. On a war footing, the government of Odisha is planning to evacuate 100,000 families by tomorrow. Effect on economy

Given the strength of the cyclone, it is expected to wreck havoc once it hits the coastal regions. The immediate damage will be to crops, telecommunications, and property, and evokes the terrifying memories pf the 1999 cyclone that caused USD 4.5 billion worth of damage across 14 districts. One can only pray that loss to life be minimal. Cyclone Phailin intensifies in the Bay of Bengal 10th October: The deep depression over the east central Bay of Bengal region, which crossed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands yesterday has intensified into cyclonic storm Phailin.According to Meteorological Department sources the storm is currently almost stationary at a distance of 950 km off the coast of Praradip post in Odisha. The cyclone is expected to strengthen further in intensity and become a severe cyclonic storm by Friday. In the next 24 hours the storm is anticipated to move closer to India's east coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and cross the coast most likely by the night of 12th October. The Odisha government has issued alerts and cancelled the leave of government employees in 14 districts expected to be in the path of the cyclone and asked the District Collectors to be on alert. The 14 districts are: Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendr apara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda,Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati. Cyclone relief shelters have also been activated where relief materials and food have been stockpiled. The Odisha state revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro said the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams will be deployed in these 14 districts from Thursday, 10th October. Heavy rain and windspeeds of 175-185 kmph are expected to strike the Odisha coast in the next 24 hours. Authorities have issued the district collectors with satellite phones and cautioned mobile service providers to ensure their communication facilities are repaired as soon as possible in the event of their towers being damaged by the cyclone. The coastal authorities have replaced the previously issued Distant Cautionary Signal Number One (DC-I) with Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) at

Paradip and Gopalpur ports. All fishermen who had ventured out to the deep sea have been warned to return to the coast at once. Cyclone Prone Area in India Cyclone warning in the Bay of Bengal

9th October: The Indian Meteorological Department confirmed that there is a deep cyclonic depression in the Bay of Bengal and that it has hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The cyclone has brought heavy rains to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands islands as it struck their shores near Mayabandar this afternoon, between 12.30 and 1.30 pm. The cyclone is expected to move in a west-northwesterly direction and cross the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts in the next 48-72 hours. Senior weather officials anticipated that windspeeds as high as 175-185 kmph, and heavy rain are expected to lash India's east coast between Kalingapatanam and Paradip in the next few days. Fishermen along the east coast have been advised not to venture into the sea. Paradip and Gopalpur ports have been asked to hoist Distant Cautionary Signal Number One. The state administration of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have also placed their officials on alert, particularly in the districts of Ganjam, Balasore, Kendrapada, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhadrak which are in the anticipated path of the cyclone. Civil officials also indicated that the National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Fire Department have been placed on alert in case their services are required at short notice. The central government has been asked to keep helicopters in readiness for rescue operations. The deep depression is currently located 1,250 km east-southeast of Paradip port in Odisha, and is expected to cause heavy rainfall as it crosses the Odisha - Andhra Pradesh coast Cyclone Phailin effect: 647 villages still marooned in Odisha Bhubaneswar: Though flood situation in Odisha's five northern districts triggered by Cyclone Phailin and resultant rains slightly improved today, people of 647 villages continued to be marooned, while the death toll in the twin calamities stood at 28. With water level in major rivers receding, the state government today decided to demobilise defence forces comprising of personnel from the Army, Navy and Air

Force. However, the local unit of NDRF would remain deployed in the flood-affected areas of Balasore district, special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra told reporters here. "Flood situation has improved except in four blocks - Basta, Bhograi, Jaleswar and Baliapal of Balasore district and waters receded in eight other blocks," he said, adding 647 villages in 83 panchayats still remained marooned. Flood water has also receded in Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar and the government has decided to stop air dropping of food packets as all area are now approachable by motor boats, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), central division, Aravind Padhee said. The RDC said about 96,000 flood affected people of Balasore district are now sheltered in relief camps. "Eighty per cent of people in relief camps will leave for their houses by the evening," Padhee said. In Jajpur district, though flood waters remained stagnant in 66 villages under 24 gram panchayats, they are approachable by boat and roads. About 70 villages of Bhadrak district were still flooded, he said. "We expect fresh floods in 30 villages of four gram panchayats under Chandbali block of Bhadrak as water of river Baitarani would flow into the sea through this channel," Mohapatra said, adding 1.73 lakh people were evacuated in the wake of the floods in Subarnarekha, Budhabalang, Baitarani and Jalaka rivers. Stating that relief distribution was now the only priority in both cyclone and flood hit areas, Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra said the state governmenthas thanked the defence forces for their support and assistance during the twin calamities. The government has expedited restoration work in Ganjam and other cyclone-hit districts and a timeline has been fixed for completion of works, he said. Bhubaneswar: Though flood situation in Odisha's five northern districts triggered by Cyclone Phailin and resultant rains slightly improved today, people of 647 villagescontinued to be marooned, while the death toll in the twin calamities stood at 28. With water level in major riversreceding, the state government today decided to demobilise defence forces comprising of personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. However, the local unit of NDRF would remain deployed in the flood-affected

areas of Balasore district, special relief commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra told reporters here. "Flood situation has improved except in four blocks - Basta, Bhograi, Jaleswar and Baliapal of Balasore district and waters receded in eight other blocks," he said, adding 647 villages in 83 panchayats still remained marooned. Flood water has also receded in Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar and the government has decided to stop air dropping of food packets as all area are now approachable by motor boats, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), central division, Aravind Padhee said. The RDC said about 96,000 flood affected people of Balasore district are now sheltered in relief camps. "Eighty per cent of people in relief camps will leave for their houses by the evening," Padhee said. In Jajpur district, though flood waters remained stagnant in 66 villages under 24 gram panchayats, they are approachable by boat and roads. About 70 villages of Bhadrak district were still flooded, he said. "We expect fresh floods in 30 villages of four gram panchayats under Chandbali block of Bhadrak as water of river Baitarani would flow into the sea through this channel," Mohapatra said, adding 1.73 lakh people were evacuated in the wake of the floods in Subarnarekha, Budhabalang, Baitarani and Jalaka rivers. Stating that relief distribution was now the only priority in both cyclone and flood hit areas, Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra said the state government has thanked the defence forces for their support and assistance during the twin calamities. The government has expedited restoration work in Ganjam and other cyclone-hit districts and a timeline has been fixed for completion of works, he said.