People of several villages such as Kiyada of Ambiki panchayat, where over 800 people had died in the super cyclone of 1999, are not willing to shift to cyclone shelters even as officials from the police and the administration executing the cyclone Titli evacuation plan tried to force them out of their homes in view of fast approaching storm.

“There is no safety and the cyclone shelters are dilapidated,” said one of the villagers.

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Ambiki is barely 3 km off the coast and had been the worst hit in the 1999 super cyclone. Two cyclone shelters at Baghadi and Kankan and another school-cum-cyclone shelter were constructed post 1999 cyclone in the area.

Villagers Minaketan Bahira, Ratanakar Pradhan, Jasbanto Pallei and others of Kiyada said they would not go to the “unsafe shelter”, adding it was “better to die at home”.

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The administration, with the help of the police, forced them out and took them to the school-cum-cyclone shelter.

The villagers said there was no space for domestic animals, or facilities for the women folk at the shelter.

Ambiki panchyat Sarpanch Saudamini Pradhan said: “Kiyada village has a population of over 1500, but they are refusing to go to the cyclone shelters.”

Kiyada is not alone. Similar reluctance can be seen in many coastal villages where people refused to budge despite the cyclone threat and the surging sea.

Villagers of Sarbant, Noliashai, Deokani, Dahibar, Kholap are being virtually forced out of their homes by the administration.

There are other areas where shelters have not been built.

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Speaking to The Statesman, Erasama Tahsildar Anjali Tarai said, “We have advised the people to stay in schools, panchayat buildings due to non-availability of cyclone shelters. Administration has been alerted the villagers of Padampur, Gadharishpur, Dhinkia, Gadakujang, Nuagaon and other vulnerable panchyats to shift safer places.”

Many villages of Erasama, Kujang, Balikuda blocks are located within 1-2 km of the sea shore and yet there is no cyclone shelter for them to shift.

In fact, IIT Kharagpur had conducted a survey to identify safe areas where cyclone shelters can be constructed and had submitted its report years ago but no construction work was taken up, said reliable sources.

Post 1999  super cyclone, as many as 595 cyclone shelters, including 36 multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters, had been set up in Jagatsinghpur district. But many of these shelters are in a dilapidated condition due to lack of maintenance – the walls have developed cracks, seepage from ceiling is visible and doors and windows are damaged.