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The mangrove belt in this region served as a natural defense against the typhoon that crossed the coast of the province with a wind speed of 110 km on Thursday night.
Cyclone Dana is falling. File photo/PTI
Cyclone Dana has caused extensive damage in Odisha near Habalikhati, between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamara. However, no injuries were reported in the area, and the damage was also minor, said local people. So who or what saved Odisha? Once again, the mangrove belt in this region is a natural protection against the typhoon that crossed the coast of the province at a speed of 110 kilometers on Thursday night.
While Dana was further slowed down by two anticyclones, weather department sources said the mangrove forest once again acted as a buffer.
Dr Jaya Krushna Panigrahi, secretary of Odisha Environmental Society, told News18, “It is the mangroves of Bhitarkanika that saved Odisha. Dana was fighting two anticyclones and then fell into the forest. The mangroves reduced their wind speed to a great extent and the strong storm did not work as the mangrove roots were absorbent.”
The mangrove roots also played a major role in water retention, experts said.
Since October 1, Bhitarkanika nature camp was also closed to tourists, so there was no one there.
Old Odisha residents say that when a huge cyclone hit Jagatsinghpur in 1999 and more than 1,000 people lost their lives, near Kendrapara, where Bhitarkanika is located, they saw very few casualties because of the mangrove barrier.
The Principal Conservator of Forests (PCCF) in Odisha, Susanta Nanda, told News18, “In two places, Dana’s speed has been slowed down by these mangroves, which is why nothing is happening.” This is where crocodiles and other animals live, but nothing happened to them. We should have more mangrove forests to protect Odisha. More awareness is needed.”
Sources said efforts will be taken to build more mangrove clusters as Odisha is a cyclone-hit state.
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