Cyclone Amphan

Intro
Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan was a powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone
that caused widespread damage in Eastern India, specifically in West Bengal
Odisha, and Bangladesh in May 2020. It was the strongest tropical cyclone to
strike the Ganges Delta and lashed northern Bangladesh from Rajshahi to
Rangpur with strong winds. Amphan was the fourth supercyclone to hit West
Bengal and Kolkata since 2015 and was one of the strongest storms to impact
the area. It caused over US$13 billion of damage and is the costliest cyclone
ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean, surpassing the record held by Cyclone
Nargis of 2008.
Ampani originated from a low-pressure area east of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 13
May 2020. The storm organised over hot sea surface temperatures and
reached its peak intensity on 18 May. Amphan began an eyewall replacement
cycle shortly after reaching its peak intensity, but the continued effects of dry
air and wind shear disrupted this process, causing it to weaken gradually.
Amphan made landfall in West Bengal on 20 May, causing heavy damage to
coastal areas in West Bengal, as well as significant destruction in Bangladesh,
bringing rain and strong winds to Rajshahi and Rangpur. The name Amphan
was suggested by Thailand, meaning' in Thai and pronounced as Um-pun.

Meteorological History
On 13 May 2020, a low-pressure area over the Southeastern Bay of Bengal in
India developed, characterised by good equator-ward outflow, warm sea
surface temperatures, and low vertical wind shear. The area consolidated and
became a depression, BOB 01, on 16 May. The depression continued to
organise and became a cyclonic storm, named Amphan. Amphan underwent
rapid intensification into a severe cyclonic storm, with winds increasing from
140 km/h (85 mph) to 215 km/h (135 mph), equivalent to a Category 4
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The IMD upgraded Amphan to an
extremely severe cyclonic storm on their cyclone intensity scale. On 18 May,
microwave imagery showed two distinct concentric eyewalls, a sign of an
eyewall replacement cycle typical for very intense cyclones. Amphan landed as
a Very Severe Cyclonic storm near Bakkhali, West Bengal, with winds of 155
km/h (95 mph). As it moved further inland, Amphan rapidly weakened, and the
JTWC downgraded the storm to a Category 1-equivalent cyclone just six hours
after landfall. Amphan degenerated into a well-marked low-pressure area on 21
May.

Preparations
Amphan, a tropical storm, has put 38.9 million people in India and Bangladesh
at risk of exposure to its winds. The Indian Meteorological Department issued a
cyclonic alert, advising fishermen not to sail to susceptible locations from 15-18
May. Fishermen from Sri Lanka were advised to return to India, while maritime
traffic from Singapore and other countries was advised to stay clear of
Amphan's vicinity. The Indian Coast Guard directed fishing boats to the
harbour, and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre activated an
International Safety Net for the Bay of Bengal. Ports were cleared, operations
were suspended, and ferry service in Bangladesh was suspended.

Evacuation
The Odisha government has directed magistrates to establish shelter homes for
potential evacuees in areas affected by Amphan. At least 1,704 shelters were
established in Odisha and over 2,000 in West Bengal, including schools and
public buildings. Social distancing restrictions in West Bengal reduced
evacuation capacity from 500,000 to 200,000 people. The Kolkata Municipal
Corporation has also located schools and community centres for temporary
shelters. Approximately 4.2 million people were evacuated in coastal India and
Bangladesh, with most in West Bengal. Odisha took a more targeted approach,
with shelter capacity for up to 1.1 million evacuees. The National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Recovery Force reported that over 500,000 people evacuated
from Odisha and West Bengal.

Impact in Eastern India

Amphan, a powerful cyclone, hit West Bengal on 20 May, causing widespread
damage and fatalities. The storm considered the strongest in over a decade,
killed at least 86 people in West Bengal, mostly due to electrocution or home
collapse. The state government estimated that Amphan caused at least ₹1.02
trillion (US$13.5 billion) in damages and directly affected 70% of the state's
population. The cyclone produced sustained winds of 112 km/h (70 mph) and
gusts to 190 km/h (120 mph), damaging homes and uprooting trees and
electric poles. Wind speeds along coastal areas were measured up to 150–160
km/h (93–99 mph). In Kolkata, Amphan toppled over 4,000 electric poles,
leaving much of the city without power for over 14 hours. At least 19 people
were killed in Kolkata. Power outages across West Bengal led to CM Mamata
Banerjee ordering power supplies to be cut in 24 Parganas, causing 2 deaths
and up to 5,500 homes damaged. Nearby Odisha also experienced significant
effects, with wind speeds reaching 106 km/h (66 mph) and rainfall up to 300
mm in Paradip.

1. Kashmir Floods disaster, 2014

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Year: 2014
Affected Areas: Rajouri, Srinagar, Bandipur etc.
Number of deaths: 550+
Cause: Continuous rainfall and swelling of Jhelum River
This flood caused a huge loss to the lives of the Kashmir region in September
2014. The water of the Jhelum river swelled due to continuous torrential
rainfall.
That is why water entered into the residential areas of the Kashmir region.
Indian army helped a lot to the stranded residents of this region. Around 550
people lost their lives and damage of properties was estimated between Rs.
5000 cr and 6000 cr.
2. Uttarakhand Flash Floods, 2013
Year: 2013
Affected Areas: It affected 12 out of 13 districts of the state. Four districts were
worst affected namely; Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, and Chamoli.
Number of deaths: 5,700 plus
Cause: Heavy rainfall, massive Landslides

Uttarakhand Flash Flood is among the most disastrous floods in the history of
India. Uttarakhand received heavy rainfall, massive Landslides in June 2013.
The flash floods and landslides continued from 14 to 17 June. Around 1 lac
pilgrims were trapped in the Kedarnath shrine.
3. Bihar flood disaster 2007
Year: 2007
Affected Areas: Name of worst affected districts are Bhagalpur, East
Champaran, Darbhanga, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Sitamarhi, and Supaul
etc.
Number of deaths: Aboud 1,287 peoples and thousands of livestock lost their
life
Cause: Five times more rainfall than the monthly average of 30 years

Bihar flood disaster 2007 was described as the worst flood in the "living
memory" of Bihar by the United Nations. It affected 19 districts of Bihar.
Bihar flood had affected an estimated 10 million people in the entire state.
There are about 29,000 houses were destroyed and 44,000 houses were
damaged, around 4822 villages and 1 crore hectares of farmland damaged by
this flood.
4. The Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
Year: 2004
Affected Areas: Southern India and Andaman Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep
island, Indonesia, Sri Lanka etc.
Number of deaths: 2.30 lac
Cause: Tsunami
This deadly Tsunami started on the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Overall it
affected around 12 countries and killed more than 2.3 lakh people.

The magnitude of this tsunami was between 9.1 and 9.3 and it continued
around 10 minutes. As per research it was the third-largest earthquake in the
world ever recorded.
5. Gujarat Earthquake,2001
Year: 2001
Affected Areas: Kutch, Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Gandhinagar, Surat, Surendranagar,
Rajkot, Jamnagar etc.
The number of deaths: Around 20,000, injured 167,000 and nearly 400,000
became homeless.
Cause: Earthquake
This was the day of India’s 51st Republic Day celebration on January 26, 2001.
Suddenly, Bhachau Taluka of Kutch (Gujarat) experienced an earthquake of 7.6
to 7.9 on the Richter Scale and lasted for 120 seconds.
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This disaster killed around 20,000, injured 167,000 and nearly 400,000 people
became homeless.
6. Super Cyclone, Odisha 1999
Year: 1999
Affected Areas: The coastal districts of Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore,
Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam and Puri etc.
Number of deaths: Around 15,000+
Cause: Cyclone
Super Cyclone of 1999 was the most dangerous tropical cyclone in the North
Indian Ocean. Its speed was 260 km/h. It affected not only India but also
Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand.
As per the estimation around 15000 people died, around 1.67 million people
became homeless, and more than 2.75 lac houses were destroyed.
7. Great Bengal Famine 1770
Year: 1770
Affected Areas: West Bengal (Birbhum and Murshidabad), Bihar (Tirhut,
Champaran, and Bettiah), Odisha, and Bangladesh
Number of deaths: Around 1 crore
Cause: Drought/Famine
Nobel laureate Indian economist Amartya Sen describes this famine as a man-
made disaster. It was caused due to a combination of exploitative policies of
the British East India Company and weather.
This famine was started in 1769 from a failed monsoon which continued for
two consecutive seasons till 1773. During the full span of this famine around 10
million died due to hunger.