Bhubaneshwar, Oct 31: Millions of people remained homeless and some thousands may be dead in the century's worst cyclone that ripped through coastal Orissa even as the state today began inching towards normalcy with partial restoration of communication and rail links.Some unconfirmed reports spoke of about 3,000 people being killed but Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang refused to hazard any guess on the magnitude of casualties.
Gamang, who made an aerial survey of the worst-hit districts, told reporters that 172 people were killed in Kendrapara, Cuttack and Khurda districts, with 150 of them in coastal Kendrapara, which bore the brunt of the super cyclone, alone. At least 25 lakh houses were either totally destroyed or damaged, according to initial estimates.
Gamang said ten districts suffered extensive damage with Kendrapara and Jagatsingpur bearing the brunt of the cyclone.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.