International meteorological agencies rated cyclone Phailin as a category 5 storm, the most severe. Lakhs of lives were at stake along the coasts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. But with elections round the corner, the state governments wasted no time in disaster management and the biggest evacuation in Indian history took place. But does government responsibility end at achieving the aim of "zero casualty"? Lives have been saved but livelihoods lost. People are wondering if history will repeat itself and how long it will take them to re-build their lives this time.
