In the annals of Odisha’s history, October 29, 1999, stands as a dark, indelible mark – the day the Super Cyclone ravaged the state, leaving behind a trail of destruction, grief, and unending sorrow. Twenty-six years ago, the coastal state was battered by nature’s fury, as the merciless cyclone claimed 9,000 lives in Jagatsinghpur, maimed thousands, and reduced millions of homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure to rubble.
As Odisha marks 26 years since the Super Cyclone’s devastating impact, Ommcom News looks back at the day that changed the state’s landscape.
On October 29, 1999, a colossal cyclonic storm slammed into Odisha’s coast near Paradip, caught between Ersama and Balikuda, unleashing a maelstrom of destruction. Winds screamed at 260 kmph, triggering torrential downpours, 6-7-meter-high tidal waves, and floods that ravaged the coastal districts, leaving devastation in their wake.
Though the official toll stands at over 9,000 lives lost, mostly in Jagatsinghpur district, unofficial estimates suggest the actual number may be significantly higher. The disaster also left approximately 7,000 people injured and resulted in the death of over 3 lakh livestock. As per sources, the storm damaged over 16 lakh houses, washed away 23,000 houses, fully damaged 7 lakh houses, and partially damaged 8 lakh houses.
The 1999 Super Cyclone’s fury was so extreme that it overwhelmed the anemometer at Paradip, rendering it unable to record the wind speed. The storm’s intensity was staggering, dumping 45-95 cm of rainfall and wreaking havoc across 14 coastal districts, 28 coastal towns, and the major cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Tears welled up in the eyes of an Ersama resident as he recounted the 1999 Super Cyclone’s horrors.
“That day is forever etched in my memory,” he said, his voice shaking. “I lost my parents, and the pain still lingers.”
He credited a sturdy banyan tree with saving his life and five others, shielding them from the storm’s fury. As his home was swept away, he clung to the tree, praying for the storm to pass. The trauma remains, with memories of destruction and desperation still haunting him. “We’ve rebuilt our lives, but the wounds will always remain,” he said, eyes misty.
For Jagatsinghpur residents, 26 years on, the scars of that devastating day still linger.
