-Satyakam Ray

Odisha experiences numerous cyclones annually due to its location near the Bay of Bengal. The 1999 supercyclone remains fresh in the minds of the people in the coastal districts. The cyclone affected many people throughout Odisha. The government judiciously uses the emergency cyclone shelters built in those regions, as cyclones don’t stop in Odisha. The rampant nature of the storms is also a factor; people compare the impact of cyclones in their free time. It’s as if Japanese people are accustomed to earthquakes.

Odisha has numerous large rivers throughout the state, alongside many tributaries. During the rainy season, rivers flood, causing widespread havoc in surrounding areas. Thousands of people suffer from floods every year, and the government must provide them with relief and support. The Odisha government’s success story in effectively managing floods and cyclones has been recognized multiple times by the United Nations and various international media outlets.

That’s the basic crux of the discussion concerning Odisha’s natural calamities. The coastal parts of the state are most affected, while the central interior remains relatively untouched. Not everybody in Odisha is directly affected by the floods. When a cyclone is considered, wind speeds and damage are somewhat reduced in Odisha’s western and central parts, as these areas are shielded.

Here comes the funny part of the narration. Many outsiders, influenced by national TV and social media, believe Odias must suffer significantly from the floods. Understandably, they respond sympathetically to fellow Odias when they hear about natural calamities in Odisha, as if all of Odisha were synonymous with floods and cyclones. They are partially correct, and the perception is slightly biased. Once, after hearing about an imminent storm in Odisha, my friends called me out of concern to see if I was okay. I was working from my hometown at that time. After receiving numerous assurances, they felt relieved. Regarding the SOS calls, I would like to clarify that only coastal towns are affected.

Many unthinking individuals make light of Odisha’s calamity, discarding the genuine concerns of genuine, good-hearted people. A Bombay guy once teased me about this scenario. With a grin, he asked whether I had encountered flood scenes in my time. To answer his sarcasm, I told him I had to swim to school during the rainy season because the floodwaters were everywhere. If I understand my current affairs correctly, Mumbai is constantly flooded by light drizzle or drainage water at the onset of the rainy season.

Nobody can replace Odisha’s geographical location. The people of Odisha are already accustomed to dealing with the calamities they face every year. Hypothetically, when the wind speed reaches 100 kilometers per hour, Indians other than Odias will run to take shelter here and there. While fellow Odias will say, “Oh, it’s only 100, ” it doesn’t excite them as much as the previous cyclone did.