Fishermen fret over storm loss in Odisha

KENDRAPADA: With

cyclone Jawad

approaching the

Odisha coasts

, a large number of marine fishermen of the coastal districts of

Kendrapada

and Jagatsinghpur have anchored their boats and fishing trawlers at harbours and jetties.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert, with likelihood of very heavy rainfall, on December 3 and 4 over Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore,

Cuttack

and Nayagarh districts. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Many fishermen have already returned to the shore on Thursday following the cyclone warning.

"Many boats have already returned from the sea at the fishing harbours and jetties on Thursday. Some of them are on their way. Through loudspeakers, we are warning the fishermen against venturing into the sea. The fisheries department will take action against those who venture into the sea, ignoring the weather warnings," said Manoranjan Mohapatra, assistant fisheries officer of Paradip.

Incessant rain and strong winds from September to November forced a large number of marine fishermen to halt their activities in the sea for around four weeks. "Now cyclone Jawed will also compel us not to venture into the sea. The fate of the fishermen is hanging in balance," said Narayan Haldar, president of the Odisha Matsyajibi Forum.

"Hundreds of fishing vessels have already been anchored at the Paradip, Kharinashi, Jamboo and Talachua harbours since September due to continuous bad weather," said Saroj Das, a fisherman of Kharinashi village.

"We depend on the sea for our daily earnings. The imminent cyclone forced us not to venture into the sea. The endless low pressures ruined our lives," said Mahendra Das, a fisherman of Kharinashi village, Kendrapada district.

"We are working with local sarpanchs and other panchayat body members to help people prepare for the cyclone in the seaside villages. The coastal areas of the state are often hit by major cyclones, and so everyone is taking the threat extremely seriously and making sure the right measures are in place to mitigate the impact. The government has also issued a warning against visiting the seaside to avoid any dangerous occurrence," said Hemalata Bahalia, the district emergency officer, Kendrapada.