Cop in Odisha displays courage to help people evacuate to safety amid cyclone Amphan

Tapan Kumar Nayak, the Inspector-In-Charge at Rajnagar Police Station of Odisha's Kendrapada district has displayed his dedication towards duty when the climatic disaster hit the state and netizens can't stop praising his courage.

Kendrapada (Odisha): After a year of 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm Fani, which affected a total of 1.65 crore people in 14 districts of Odisha, again cyclone Amphan lashed state's coastal districts this month.

The cyclone Amphan which passed by the Odisha coast on May 20 last has greatly affected the low lying areas of Rajnagar in coastal Kendrapara district.

Keeping the super cyclone in view the district administration had warned the people living in the low lying areas to safer places by the evening of May 19.

Hours before the strongest tropical cyclone to hit Odisha ripped through the coast, the Inspector-In-Charge, Tapan Kumar Nayak at Rajnagar Police Station of Kendrapada district did what very few expected him to do.

In such a gloomy situation, Tapan and his colleagues evacuated over 60 elderly, women, and children to the safety of cyclone shelters.

Without caring the wind storms gusting up to nearly 160 kmph accompanied by heavy torrential rain incessant rains on the night of May 19, Tapan performed his duties and reached the Baunsagad river from Rajnagar in his police jeep. After crossing the river, he walked long ten kms on the narrow muddy road and convinced more than 60 people who had stayed back between Satbhaya seashore area up to Okilapal to move to a safer place.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, IIC, Tapan said, "Amphan cyclone was a unique experience for us. After I and my colleagues crossed the river inhabited by a large number of crocodiles and then walked ten kilometers on foot on the narrow muddy road to rescue the affected people and safely brought them to the rehabilitation centre. The blessings of the people have provided us a lot of self-confidence and encouragement to become more sincere towards our duties. It has also shown us the way to perform our duty in a better manner in the future."

"Although it was practically a daunting task to meet the challenge of Ampan cyclone while performing Coronavirus related duties but the sense of our duty and sincere work are certainly become an encouragement for the entire police department," he added.

Eleven days after cyclone Amphan battered Odisha coast, the story of this police officer as a good Samaritan is winning hearts for rescuing people against all odds.