Subas Biswas, a fish farmer from Kendrapara district in Odisha, had hoped he would return home with substantial earnings soon, but all his hopes were dashed when he visited four of his ponds after Cyclone Dana passed.

Subas, who hails from Kharnashi village in Kendrapara, told The Telegraph: “When the intensity of the wind of Cyclone Dana subsided, we thanked God that our lives were saved and our houses were spared. But when I reached my fish ponds, I found that my livelihood was lost because of the heavy rainfall.” The district witnessed heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday.

Subas explained that he had been rearing fish on four acres of water body near the river, and the fish had grown to sizes between 800gm and 1kg. “I had planned to sell the fish in November during the wedding season. But the dream of earning a good money was swept away by the rainfall. All four of my ponds overflowed, and the fish swam out into the nearby river and creeks.”

Kendrapara district is known for its rivers and creeks, infested with fish
and crocodiles.

Subas said: “Covid had broken our back. We lost everything and had to sell the fish at distressed prices for at least two years from 2020 to 2022. There were no buyers.

“After Covid, we started rebuilding our business to earn good money. I had taken a loan of ₹4 lakh from a private bank in 2023 and started renovating the ponds. This year, we sold fish and managed to pay the interest, hoping to repay the principal soon. But now, all our efforts are in vain. How will I repay the debt?”

The fish farmer added: “I have two grown-up children. One is pursuing BTech in Bhubaneswar, and the other works at a private garage. Every month, I send ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 to my son in Bhubaneswar. How can I arrange that
money now?”

Similar is the story of Jaykrishna Majhi, Jagdeb Mandal and other fish farmers. The pisciculture sector has been badly hit by the cyclone.

“I had taken up fish rearing on seven acres. But all the fish were swept away after the ponds overflowed with rainwater. I don’t know how to do the business again,” said 34-year-old Majhi.

Despite the claims of the fishermen, sources revealed that the directorate of fishery cited that the pisciculture sector suffered no losses. However, the state government asked the field officials to submit a report within seven days.

Similar cases are being reported from Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak where the heavy rainfall after the cyclone created a flood-like situation.

Deputy chief minister K.V. Singh Deo, who holds the agriculture portfolio, on Saturday held a review meeting with the district officials. He said that farmers affected by Cyclone Dana would receive compensations. A central team is expected to visit soon for damage assessment.