``My two-year baby needs water,'' says a housewife.

Similar is the story for everybody. For those who live in the slums, it is worse. The cyclone blew their houses away, they moved in to the half-constructed houses nearby. But when it comes to water, they have little choice but to raid those who are more lucky, sometimes they have to steal a pitcher. At many times, they have to beg. But given that restoration of power and water is nowhere in sight, there are few willing to give. But that's only part of the story.

People elsewhere in the capital city are starving. In Rasulgarh, they raid vehicles for food,plunder grocery shops, snatch away kerosene from people who have been waiting for two hours. Retailers trying to make money out of the tragedy are beaten up across the city and angry residents have set up roadblocks everywhere, prying into passing vehicles for food or demanding money from passengers. Snatching the other man's food is no more a crime. These are desperate times.

There are long queues in front of petrol bunks: people have to move out to their villages to find out if the twister has left something behind. And who knows what will happen next, so it's better to stock petrol as much as you can. It's not easyit costs Rs 45 a litre.

Candles seem to have vanished from the city. With kerosene not easily available, darkness descends early in Bhubaneswar. People have to ration their stock of candles and kerosene. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar remains unrecognisable with its green cover under sheets of water, its signposts, billboards and electric poles all twisted and razed. This is not the city its peopleknow.