People flee Bhubaneswar amid acute water, electricity crisis post Fani

Bhubaneswar: Grappling with water shortage, lack of electricity, poor mobile connectivity and cash crunch following cyclone Fani, residents of Bhubaneswar have started heading towards their villages. Crowded scenes were witnessed at ticket counters in Bhubaneswar Railway Station and Baramunda bus terminal with most of the migrated populace, who are in jobs or studying in Bhubaneswar, preferring to return to their native villages till normalcy is restored in the capital city.

As most of the trains and buses have been cancelled, many are still stranded at railway station and bus terminals.

"We lived here with much difficulty in the last two days. We are leaving the city as we don't have things to cook and eat. Besides, it is extremely difficult to buy vegetables due to the skyrocketing prices after the cyclone," said one of the village-bound Bhubaneswar residents.

"We will get at least water from either wells or tube wells in our village as we don't have even that facility here," said another person.

Another person said, "We have to pay extra for water. The water bottles which cost Rs 10 usually are being sold for Rs 15. As the ATMs are not functional we don't even have much cash in hand. Therefore, we are forced to go to the village."

On the other hand, Debasis Nayak, spokesperson of All Odisha Private Bus Owners' Association, said that the situation will become normal soon.  "Some buses were cancelled due to the cyclone. However, most of them have now become operational," said Nayak.