25 years of 1999 Super Cyclone: Memories of the greatest ever cyclonic storm still haunt people in Odisha

Odisha woke up to one of the greatest cyclonic disasters on 29th October 1999 when a Super Cyclone made landfall near Paradip between Ersama and Balikuda with the highest wind speed of 260 kmph. Torrential rain accompanied by gusty surface wind, tidal waves as high as six to seven metres and flood wreaked havoc across coastal districts in Odisha, claiming more than 9000 lives. However, the unofficial death figure is believed to be way higher than this. In between, 25 years have passed but the horrific memory of the cyclonic disaster still gives nightmares.

The Super Cyclone, also known as Paradip Cyclone, hit Odisha with wind speeds packing up to 250 kmph and more, the category of an F5 tornado on this day. Sandhakud Basti near the beach in Paradip was completely destroyed by the Super Cyclone. The storm led to intense rainfall and affected 14 coastal districts, 28 coastal towns and two major cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. 

If reports are anything to go by, at least 13 million people including 3.3 million children, 5 million women and nearly 3.5 million elderly people were affected by the 1999 Super Cyclone. The storm also left over 7000 people injured. The livestock death count stood at over 3 lakh. Over 16 lakh houses were damaged, 23000 houses washed away, 7 lakh houses fully damaged and 8 lakh houses partially damaged.

While some managed to save their lives from the destruction, some lost their near and dear ones. Bodies of victims dotted the roads in the sheer destruction. 

Recounting the horror, Nirmala Biswal said “I lost my nine-year-old daughter, father-in-law to the Super Cyclone. My house was completely ravaged due to the cyclonic disaster. The devastating memory still haunts me and gives me immense pain.”

“It was Friday when the Super Cyclone hit Paradip. When I returned to my house, it was already reduced to debris. I was carrying my mother on my shoulder when a strong tidal wave hit us and we were swept away. After three days, I found my mother’s body and performed her last rites,” said Budheswar Kandi, a Super Cyclone victim.