| Cyclones & their Impact in India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1. History of Cyclones in India:
1.2. Although cyclones affect the entire coast of India, the East Coast is more prone compared to the West Coast. An analysis of the frequencies of cyclones on the East and West coasts of India during 1891-2000 show that nearly 308 cyclones (out of which 103 were severe) affected the East Coast. During the same period 48 tropical cyclones crossed the West Coast, of which 24 were severe cyclonic storms. Out of the cyclones that develop in the Bay of Bengal, over 58 percent approach and cross the east coast in October and November. Only 25 percent of the cyclones that develop over the Arabian Sea approach the west coast. In the pre-monsoon season, corresponding figures are 25 percent over the Arabian Sea and 30 percent over the Bay of Bengal. 1.3. An account of the cyclones crossing the Indian coast and the details of damage caused by some severe tropical cyclones in India are given below: Number of Cyclones Crossing Various coastal Districts of East and West Coast of India during 1891- 2000
2. Recent Cyclone in Orissa in October 1999: 2.1. A very severe cyclonic storm and a Super Cyclone hit the Orissa coast in quick succession in October 1999. Before the people could recover from the impact of the first cyclone on 17th October, 1999, a Super Cyclone struck Orissa coast during October 29-30, 1999. These cyclones left a trail of death and destruction and devastated 14 districts in the State. About 8960 persons lost their lives, 4,50,000 cattle perished, about 2 million houses were damaged, about 90 million trees were uprooted and 1.8 million ha. paddy and 33,000 ha. non-paddy cultivated land was affected. Infrastructure facilities were severely damaged. Saline inundation left most of the drinking water sources polluted and dysfunctional. The loss estimated by Orissa Government was about Rs. 62 billion, which did not include the loss to the Central Government properties like Railways, Telecommunication etc. According to other estimates, the total financial loss was over Rs. 100 billion making it the worst cyclone related disaster of rare occurrence in the recent past in India. 3. Special nature of the problem 3.1. Though the frequency of Tropical Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) are the least in the world (7% of the global total), their impact on the coasts bordering the North Bay of Bengal (North of 150 N latitude) in India as well as in the Bangladesh are extremely disastrous. The problem can be fathomed from the fact that during the past two and a half centuries, 20 out of 23 major cyclone disasters (with human loss of life 10,000 or more and not considering the damages) in the world have occurred over the Indian Subcontinent (India and Bangladesh). One of the major reasons for this is the serious storm tide problem in these coasts. A tropical cyclone of specific intensity when it strikes the east coast of India and Bangladesh, usually produces a higher storm surge compared to that when such a cyclone strikes elsewhere in the world. This is because of the special nature of the coastline, the shallow coastal ocean topography and the characteristics of tide in the North Bay of Bengal region. Further the high density of population, low awareness of the community about cyclones and their risks, inadequate response and preparedness add to the severity of the problem. 3.2. There are 13 Coastal States and UTs in the country, with about 84 coastal districts affected by tropical cyclones. Four States (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) and one UT (Puducherry) on the East Coast and one State (Gujarat) on the West Coast are the States that are more vulnerable to cyclone disasters. 4. Vulnerability to Cyclones: 4.1. Cyclones are natural events, which can neither be wished away nor prevented. What actually makes these hazards turn in to disasters is the vulnerability of the people and their means of livelihood and the fragility of infrastructure. The Indian Sub-continent is the worst affected part in the world as far as loss of lives is concerned though more severe cyclones do occur in other parts of the world and financial losses are much more elsewhere. This could primarily be attributed to the special nature of the problem discussed above and the vulnerability of the people. High population density, comparatively better employment opportunities and economic compulsions force people to occupy, areas, which are susceptible to cyclones, saline ingress and flooding. Inadequacy of infrastructure adds to their vulnerability. Traditional coping mechanisms have been the mainstay for these people to counter hazards, but during major disasters these coping mechanisms are found wanting. Though communities have a natural tendency to face hazards by joining hands, they usually fail to generate the desired synergy because of unsystematic and ad hoc approaches. On many occasions people are not even aware of the risks involved. The frequent disasters nullify the development of several years and turn the clock back for these vulnerable families. 5. Impact on the Coastal Eco-System: 5.1. “Coastal ecosystem” includes estuaries and coastal waters and lands located at the lower end of drainage basins, where streams and river systems meet the sea and are mixed by tides. The coastal ecosystem includes saline, brackish (mixed saline and fresh) and fresh waters, as well as coastlines and the adjacent lands. All these water and landforms interact as integrated ecological units. Shore-lands, dunes, sandbars, offshore islands, headlands, and freshwater wetlands within estuarine drainages are included in the definition since these interrelated features are crucial to coastal fish and wildlife and their habitats. Mangroves are located all along estuarine areas, deltas, tidal creeks, mud flats, salt marshes and extend over 4871 sq. km (about 7% of world’s mangrove areas). Impact of global warming- induced sea level rise due to thermal expansion is more pronounced in the Bay of Bengal due to the shallowness of the waters. The entire coastal ecosystem in general and the eastern coast in particular are highly vulnerable due to flat and low terrain, high population density, over exploitation of natural resources, high rate of environmental degradation on account of pollution and non-sustainable development. On many occasions, the livelihood requirements of people are detrimental to maintaining the delicate balance of the fragile coastal ecosystem. Degradation of the eco-system not only affects the environment adversely, but also makes the people living in the coastal areas more vulnerable. |
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