Cyclone Dana: Joy amid gloom as 2200 babies born during cyclone in Odisha

Amid trails of destruction and anxious moments triggered by severe cyclonic storm Dana, as many as 2200 babies including 18 twins were born during its fury in Odisha.

The parents are on cloud nine over the development as the fury of cyclone brought a golden time for them and it will be forever etched in their memories throughout their lives. While the cyclone was causing fury outside, the mothers were going through birth pangs inside the hospitals. While some of the parents were eventually blessed with baby girls, some others gave birth to baby boys during the crucial moment.

As the cyclone fury also brought moments of celebration for many with the birth of 2200 babies, some families have decided to name the newborns after the cyclonic storm. They have christened them as ‘Dana’, ‘Danveer’ etc.

Take the case of Premlata Samal who is a resident of Chandbali. Earlier, she had given birth to two daughters. Now, she has been blessed with a baby boy amid the fury of Cyclone Dana. The elated family members have decided to name their son as ‘Danab’.

“With blessings from God, we have been blessed with a baby boy amid the cyclone fury. We are so happy. We will name our son after the cyclone and call him ‘Danab’,” said an elated Premlata.

Including Premlata, as many as 35 pregnant women were admitted to Chandbali Community Health Center during the cyclonic storm. The cyclone also became memorable for Lijarani Majhi from Charadia village as she gave birth to a baby boy as her first child. She also wished to name her son as ‘Danab’. Hemlata Nath, who was blessed with a baby boy during the cyclone, wished to keep the name of her son as ‘Danveer Harishandra’.

“We wish to name our sun as ‘Danveer Harishandra’ as he has taken birth during the cyclone,” said Hemlata.

Under ‘Mission Zero Casualty’ of the Odisha government, priority was given to children, elderly persons and pregnant women. About 6,000 pregnant women were safely evacuated and admitted to different medical centres and hospitals ahead of the landfall of the cyclone.

“The delivery was conducted smoothly and both mother and baby are fully safe and healthy. All kinds of treatment facilities were provided in the hospital,” said Dr Upasana Biswal from Talachuan Primary Health Center.

“The newborn babies during the cyclone will be the future architect of new Odisha,” said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.