Cyclone Runs Amok in Oman

The photographs of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gonu in the Sultanate of Oman are simply distressing and upsetting.
A lovely paradise, having thousands of years of colourful history, with the record of the longest reigning royal lineage in the Middle East, with Muscat holding the credit of being the only capital city in the world with the Tropic of Cancer passing through it, is now partly littered by debris and wreckage.

Lovely seaface walkways of Muttrah Corniche, Kalbuh and Riyam in the capital city of Muscat.

The mountains giving shelter to rare flora and fauna, the latter including endangered species like the Arabian Oryx and the Caracal Lynx, now protected under conservation laws.
The coastal stretch and the interior dotted by centuries-old forts and citadels.

The mountains of Al Sharqia, home to world's only species of the Arabian Tahr (Hemitragus Jayakari), the mountain goat discovered by Dr Atmaram S G Jayakar, a surgeon from Mumbai, who served in Oman for long 27 years towards the end of the 19th century, serving as army surgeon and the personal physician of the then ruler of Oman.
The lovely beaches stretching from Al Qantab right up to Al Sawadi island.
The hot springs of Al Dakhaliya.

The rich deposits of rare earths and metals.

The list is long. Added to it is the stupendous progress achieved by the country during the last 36 years under the enlightened and dynamic leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
The leader who has so graciously provided a second home to almost 400,000 Indian expatriates.

With a far sight, the government of Oman geared up to face the situation with admirable precautionary measures like pressing into action its whole security and armed forces machinery, by shutting down the country for four days and the like.

The wisdom shown by the Omani authorities is vindicated - the level of human loss was much lower than what could have been. Yet there was a huge loss to private and public property. The recovery to normal situation may take some time.

India, as a friendly nation, should stand by and express its solidarity with this beautiful country, with friendly people and rich culture and heritage.

Our sympathies go out to everyone who suffered the loss in whatever way.

- as said By Richie Lasrado Of daijiworld.com

For all the cyclone pictures, click on Oman Cyclone Pictures in the Labels column.