Super Cyclones,Climate Change & Other Episodes
According to an authentic NET source,Climate changes lead to two to four Tropical cyclones in India on an average,every year. Generally they impact Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh,Odisha and West Bengal. Historically, these are more common along Bay of Bengal unlike the Arabian Sea.
2.Bhola Cyclone,the deadliest of them in 1970 had killed over five lakh people in East Pakistan and West Bengal.
Next were the Odisha cyclone of 1999 and Phaillin in October 2013.Last named was extremely severe one to hit Andaman & Nicobar Islands in addition to Thailand,Myanmar and Nepal.
Post-2009 Situation
3. The year 2009 can be considered a turning point in the sense that two focussed agencies,namely,NDMA and NDRF took birth under MHA at Central level,followed by SDMA’s and SDRF in States.Now Rescue & relief mechanism has percolated down to Block or Punchayat levels with existence of First Responders.
Reverting to Cyclones, 2018 is also very important as eight very intense & strong cyclones have hit various parts of the country since then as per same NET input.
These are:Gaja and Phetai (2018),Fani, Vayu & Hikka (2019), Amphan & Nisarga(2020) and Tauktae.
TAUKTAE
4. Much ahead of arrival of normal Monsoon at Kerala, this monster hit Kerala,Maharastra,Diu and Gujarat in the 2nd week of May,2021 causing more than 500 deaths and almost collapse of off shore oil operations in Bombay High region due to unbelievable wind velocity.
One of the iconic monuments,Gateway of India was also shaken & weakened apart from cancellation of air services for 12 hours as also halt of trains and buses.Miseries caused to Covid scared daily labour and common man are yet to be calculated.
AMPHAN
5. While originating from the Bay of Bengal,Amphan was a powerful category 5 hurricane with a highest wind speed of 260 kms per hour. Upon devastating parts of Odisha in May 2020 and vast areas in West Bengal, it led to 118 fatalities despite very good drills and preparations both by state Government and NDRF personnel. The happening also saw many allegations and counter allegations regarding insufficiency of relief funds.
NISARGA
6. On the other hand, Nisarga cyclone which had a land fall in Maharastra from the Arabian Sea within two weeks of Amphan(June 2020), caused somewhat less destruction and only six fatalities with a wind speed of 110 kms per hour.
YAAS,Strongest Of All
7. The 145 kmsph to 225 kmsph severe cyclone, the second one to hit India in nine days is forecasted to have landfall around noon at Chandbali- Dhamra port in Odisha on 26th May. Same may intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm within 12 to 18 hours to cruise further North-North West to affect 11 UT’s and states,namely,A&N Islands,Pudducherry,T.N.,Andhra,Odisha,W.
Bengal,Sikkim,Jharkhand,Bihar,Assam and Meghalaya.
Preparation & Evacuation
8. NDRF, SDRF,Army,,CPMF’s, BDO’s & 20 to 25 Dist.heads in Odisha & W.Bengal have pulled up their sleeves further to tackle this supersonic event. The NDRF has earmarked 113 teams,highest ever,as a measure of precaution and preparation.One can imagine worsening of present Covid dominated crisis by destruction of village houses and standing crops.
9.Coming to evacuation,1.4 million people have been moved & kept in storm shelters in two States.
Effect of pre- cyclone storm is already being felt by destruction to 80 houses & electrocution of two people in Hoogly and North 24 Parganas Districts of W.Bengal.
2004 Tsunami
10. But most devastating of sudden climate change episodes of 21st Century could be Tsunami of December 2004, having the strike at Sumatra in Indonesia which spread to Japan,Thailand,India,Sri Lanka, Maldives etc.,in the process, killing 2,27,000 people, apart from mind blowing destruction of infrastructure.
Antarctica Developments
11. Input pertaining to breaking of a major chunk of A-76 Iceberg in Antarctica on 13th May 2020 and possible rapid disintegration of continental ice selves of the Peninsula are there to remind us about the
Following Pertinent Questions
in respect of our future survival and sustenance:
Pertinent Questions
***Phenomena of climate change is being heard for a considerable length of time.
Is it happening ?
***Are glaciers melting ?
*** Are some islands of Africa,Maldives and Bangla Desh going to be submerged ? ***Will ice blocks of Antarctica drift away in future also ?
*** Is Global Warming actually taking place or does it often take the shape of Global Cooling and resultantly freak weather conditions happen, every now and then.
***Was 20th May record fall in temperature in 70 years in NCR a grim reminder ?
*** Is it true that Earth temperature increased by 0.5 degree in 20th Century and that one and a half degree enhancement has been recorded already and in future it could be a rise by 2 degrees.
And last but not the least,
*Is it the usual Weather Forecast relating to occurence of depression or warmth in the Indian Ocean as the attributing factor for rise in number of cyclones ? OR
*Is it Also happening due to unusual mysteries and Cosmic developments ?
Dr. Aaloc Srivastav,
Ex-ChiefSecretary,
Sikkim
