– Satyakam Ray
People worldwide are aware of the horror the Odias faced during the 1999 super cyclone. Odisha, India’s best-kept tourism secret, is infamous for its tropical cyclones and floods. New storms emerge in Odisha to claim their fair share of havoc each year, adding to existing woes. Cyclones Fani, Amphan, Titli, Phailin, and Hudhud have caused enormous devastation in people’s lives and property.
Very few people are aware that Odisha experienced a rare tornado in 1978. The new generations, of course, have no clue about such an incident. However, people in their early 60s can remember the incident as if it happened yesterday. They have heard or read about the news in newspapers during College or early youth.
The incident I will describe is the sixth story of the Anandpur series.
See the left-hand corner at the top.
On a fine April afternoon in 1978, everything was calm and ordinary, and people were doing their business. Suddenly, news spreads like wildfire in Anandpur about a tornado that has devastated a nearby village. The village was Purunabandhaguda, located 10 km from Ghasipura and Anandpur. Stories of severe loss of life were reported. The gossip circle in Anandpur discussed the fatal incidents, which they had heard by word of mouth.
The tornado lasted nearly 10 minutes in the afternoon, around 4-5 p.m. The houses were lifted several feet above the ground and were crushed in a distant place by the fearsome wind. Many people’s bodies were found later in nearby tree trunks, whereas some were found crashed into the ground. Even the cattle were not spared. All the water from the pond was lifted into the air, and the fish and mud slammed into the ground. The description is not exaggerated, even if it feels like too much. It happened, and the incident is documented in old journals.
Details of the tornado in an old journal are a bit hazy, though!
After hearing Maa’s story, I was intrigued and looked it up on Google. Every account I listened to was accurate. I even found some interesting facts in the journal. I am quoting what I have read.
A ten-month-old baby was suddenly lifted some 20 feet into the air as though by a diabolical hand and propelled forward some 30 yards and then suddenly, and mysteriously gently put down on a thick heap of straw so that she did not get a scratch on her body.
The village of Purunabandhaguda suffered significant losses that day. They lost 141 human lives and 231 heads of cattle.
According to several eyewitnesses, a big, ball-shaped dark cloud appeared in the sky. It had a luminous red band and appeared suddenly before the tornado. It was followed by darkness and the terrific thunderclaps, along with a whirling wind that churned the air.
Most likely, all the village’s residents who were present that day died. Many were missing hands, legs, or eyes. Remarkably, few people survived with severe consequences.
Two to three days later, the Red Cross of College went to the affected area to help the survivors. When the group arrived, the teacher lined up the students outside the hall, where the people were treated. Maa was a part of the team.
All the survivors were being treated in the hospital. There was a shortage of nurses and doctors. The teacher led the students into the hall, one by one, to help the victims. But the result was the opposite. The screams and anguish of the victims were loud, and the student group was listening to them anxiously. A few students screamed upon seeing horrific scenes in the gallery.
When Maa’s turn came up, she reluctantly went to the gallery. She saw a lady sleeping in front of the hall, whose eyes had popped out of their sockets! Further down the aisle, many people were lying here and there with one limb missing, an eye missing, or other severe deformities.
The incident shocked everyone, given that the area had no history of natural disasters. Many people who had gone to nearby Anandpur for work could make a living. Their whole family died in this mishap. The government provided relief items to the survivors, and the village was subsequently remodeled with new houses. It was also renamed. The complete agony and screams sometimes linger in the survivors’ consciousness. They also linger in the minds of those who went to the actual place to volunteer.
Despite my numerous efforts, this blog could not provide a clear view of the tornado’s devastation. So, the readers have to adjust to the picture; I got it from my research, which is very hazy. Use your imagination!
The Witty Stride 