Online booking for cyclone-affected Habalikhati Nature Camp in Odisha starts; concerns over tourists’ safety

Though the guesthouse at Habalikhati beach under Rajnagar block within Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara district has been substantially damaged by Cyclone Dana, the Forest Department has started online booking of those cottages. As a result, questions have now been raised over the safety and security of the visitors.

High tidal waves formed due to the impact of cyclone Dana left the seaside guesthouse at Habalikhati beach severely damaged. 

Habalikhati attracts many tourists round the year. However, days after churning in the Bay of Bengal, the cyclone storm made a landfall at Habalikhati beach on October 25 midnight submerging the nine-room guesthouse.

Though the Forest Department has already started online booking of the cottages at Habalikhati beach for the tourists from November 16 for their overnight stays from December 1, those have suffered extensive damages and become a kind of threat to the lives of the tourists.

As per reports, the sea has been gradually engulfing the cottages. Hundreds of trees were uprooted in the effect of the storm. Due to the high tidal wave, the pillars of the cottages have got substantially damaged and rods have come out of the concrete structures.

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Under the circumstances, considering the safety and security of the tourists, questions have been raised over the Forest Department's move to start booking of the cottages.

“The cottages at Habalikhati have suffered severe damages and those could collapse at any moment. It is quite dangerous. However, the Forest Department has started online booking of the cottages without taking any steps for the repair work,” rued a former forest official.

No comments could be obtained from the forest department officials or the concerned authority.