Cyclone Shaheen wreaks havoc in Oman, thousands evacuated
RESIDENTS FACE POWER OUTAGE, WATER SHORTAGE IN WORST-HIT AREAS
Surrounded by overflowing wadis, flooded streets and submerged vehicles, Muscat residents shut themselves in their homes as Cyclone Shaheen made landfall, causing heavy rains in both residential and industrial areas.
Thousands of people have been evacuated and put up in emergency shelters. Residents in certain areas have reported power outages while some are facing water shortage. The Oman Wastewater Authority has requested all residents to use water judiciously.
“We are many years older and wiser than the previous cyclone experience, but then the force of wind around us and the thought of a wadi near our homes that can bulge and overflow into our homes is numbing our brains. This time around, the preparations seem more clinical and well thought of and that’s a big relief,” Hema Ilango, a housewife staying in the Al Ghubra area says.
Hema’s house is located in a low-lying area opposite Indian School Al Ghubra that normally is the worst-hit due to its location. A natural stream has already formed in the area skirting the residential locality.
Locked inside
Pradip Babukara, a Mumbaichat vendor who has a shop in downtown Ruwi, has been locked in his home with his wife and aunt since yesterday. His home is located adjacent to the Muttrah Souq, facing the picturesque corniche. “It is scary to look at the corniche through our balcony grill since yesterday. Between 3 and 5pm on October 2, there were huge waves that crashed outside the walls of the corniche stretch. The force of the water was such that it broke the barricade at certain places.
“Police and commandos are stationed now in our locality and traffic is not allowed since yesterday night. The wind has started furiously over again from today morning. Power supply too gets cut off at times.”
Tommy Brucha, a resident of Muttrah, has not been able to reach home after a football match yesterday as the flooding of water at the corniche and the broken barricades have prompted police to seal the place off.
Oman earlier delayed and rescheduled flights to and from the airport of its capital city Muscat to Sunday evening or until further notice, the sultanate’s airports authority said on its official Twitter account.
Flights affected
Flight tracker reported several flights skirting the Sea of Oman flight path to avoid the stormy winds. Oman Air has rescheduled flights to and from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Manila, Colombo, Dhaka, Salalah, Dar Es Salam and Duqum.
Residents of North Al Ghubra, a region known for sea-front residences, have been evacuated as of October 2 night. The residents of premium water-front property Almouj have also been evacuated. Many schools and other public utility buildings have been converted into shelters. More than 2,700 people were put up in the emergency shelters.
Muttrah Souq, the waterfront, facing the corniche in Muscat has been closed. The barricade separating the land from the waterfront in certain places across the cornich had fallen off due to the force of the water.
Police and security personnel were in patrol through the night and even as this goes to print, staving off traffic from the areas. The residents staying in low-lying areas in this locality have been moved to shelters.
A statement from the National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM) said: “Movement is cut off on the streets of Muscat Governorate, except for the Muscat Expressway, so as to allow for the movement of emergency and humanitarian assistance until cyclone Shaheen passes.”
Traffic was also suspended in the Governorates of North and South Al Batina and there will be access only for emergency and humanitarian cases as the eye of the cyclone approaches.