ODISHA CYCLONE

Cyclone is a region of low atmospheric pressure surrounded by high

atmospheric pressure resulting in swirling atmospheric disturbance accompanied by
powerful winds blowing in anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in
the clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. They occur mainly in the tropical
and temperate regions of the world.
General Characteristics:
Cyclones in India are moderate in nature. Some of the general characteristics of a
cyclone are:
1. Strong winds
. !"ceptional rain
#. Storm surge
Cyclones are generally accompanied by strong winds which cause a lot of
destruction. In some cases it is accompanied by hea$y downpour and also the rise in
the sea which intrudes inland there by causing floods.
The de$elopment of a cyclone co$ers three stages namely
a) Formation and initial development state: %our atmospheric& oceanic conditions
are necessary for the formation of a cyclone namely:
' ( warm sea temperature in e"cess of ) degree centigrade* to a depth of )+ meters*
which pro$ides abundant water $apour in the air by e$aporation.
' High relati$e humidity ,degree to which the air is saturated by water $apor- of the
atmosphere to a height of about .+++ meters* facilitates condensation of water
$apor into droplets and clouds* releases heat energy and induces drop in pressure.
' (tmospheric instability ,an abo$e a$erage decrease of temperature with altitude-
encourages considerable $ertical cumulus cloud con$ection when condensation of
rising air occurs.
' ( location of at least /01 latitude degrees from the !2uator allow the influence of the
force due to the earth3s rotation ,Coriolis force- to take effect in inducing cyclonic
wind circulation around low pressure centers.
b- Fully matured: The main feature of a fully mature tropical cyclone is a spiral
pattern of highly turbulent giant cumulus thundercloud bands. These bands spiral
inwards and form a dense highly acti$e central cloud core which raps around a
relati$ely calm 4one. This is called the eye of a cyclone. The eye looks like a black
hole or a dot surrounded by thick clouds. The outer circumference of the thick cloud
is called the eye wall.
c- Weakenin or decay: ( tropical cyclone begins to weaken as soon as its source of
warm moist air is abruptly cut off. This is possible when the cyclone hits the land* on
the cyclone mo$es to a higher altitude or when there is the interference of another low
pressure. 5epending on their track on the warm tropical sea and pro"imity to land a
cyclone may last for less than / hours to more than # weeks. 6n an a$erage the life
cycle of a cyclone ,a cyclone to complete these three stages mentioned abo$e- takes
si" days. The longest cyclone is typhoon 7ohn which lasted for #1 days ,(ugust to
September* 188/ in the north east and north west pacific basins-.
Cyclones are known by different names in different parts of the world:
' Typhoons in the Northwest 9acific 6cean west of the dateline
' Hurricanes in the North (tlantic 6cean* the Northeast 9acific 6cean east of the
dateline* or
the South 9acific 6cean.
' Tropical cyclones 0 the Southwest 9acific 6cean and Southeast Indian 6cean.
' Se$ere cyclonic storm: ,the North Indian 6cean-
' Tropical cyclone ,the Southwest Indian 6cean-
' ;illie0;illie in (ustralia
' Tornado in South (merica
!ndian Cyclones
Cyclones $ary in fre2uency in $arious parts of the world. The .11).) kilometers long
Indian coastline is the earth3s most cyclone battered stretch of the world. (round < per
cent of the total land area in India is prone to cyclones. (bout two0third of the
cyclones that occur in the Indian coastline occur in the =ay of =engal. The states
which are generally affected in the east coast are ;est0=engal* 6rissa* (ndhra
9radesh> Tamil Nadu and on the west coast ?u@arat* Aaharashtra* ?oa* Barnataka and
Berala.
Classi"ication o" cyclones:

History of pre$ious cyclones in India
5e$astating cyclones in 6disha
1888 Cyclone:
1888 cyclone was a super cyclonic storm ,Cat. 1 Hurricane- which
made its landfall in 6disha on 6ct 10No$ #* 1888. The minimum
pressure recorded was 81 mbar with ma"imum speed recorded #++
Bmph ,<
th
oct- and its speed was )+ Bmph at the time of landfall
leading to loss of more than 1++++ li$es in the costal areas and a total loss
estimated was /.1 =illion CSD. It was the strongest tropical cyclone e$er
recorded in Indian 6cean.
( total area of 1*.11*+++ Ha of crops were destroyed* and an
additional 8+ million trees were either uprooted or had snapped.
Cyclone #hailin:
Eery se$ere cyclonic storm ,Cat. 1 Hurricane-
Time of landfall 0 6ct /01/* +1#
Fowest pressure G 8/+ mbar
Aa". speed recorded 0)+ Bmph ,11
th
oct-
Speed obser$ed at the time of landfall 011 Bmph
%atalities 0 /1
Foss estimated G )8) Aillion CS5 ,)<< Aillion CS5-
Second strongest tropical storm recorded in Indian ocean.
The total loss to crops 0 estimated at Hs. */++ crore as o$er
1++*+++ ha damaged.
<.#. lakh people 0 e$acuated and .#/ lakh houses damaged.
In total 1/*11/ $illages in 1 districts were affected.
$itiation strateies %y &disha overnment
9rediction of Cyclone path and early warning system.
Aass e$acuation
Infrastructure building ,construction of cyclone proof shelters-
Hehabilitation
$ass 'vacuation
High alert was issued in the costal districts of =alasore* =hadrak*
Cuttack* 9uri* Bhurda* ?an@am* ?opalpur etc.
1*11/*.1 people were e$acuated
(rrangements for o$er 1*+++*1)+ food packets was made by the
state go$ernment for distribution to the affected people.
Indian (ir %orce helicopters were kept on standby in ;est =engal
to mo$e in for help at short notice.
(elie" and (eha%ilitation
5amage to educational campuses 0 Hs. #++ crore ,1+ institutions-
Helief package
1/0day package 0 1+ kg rice* Hs. 1++* and a sheet of polythene* and
.0day package containing 1 kg rice* Hs. #++ and a polythene
sheet.
Help from !uropean Commission 0 8)*./< euro through Hed Cross
International.
The aid will be utili4ed in pro$iding clothes* shelter* drinking water*
and other needed supplies for the affected.
6ther donations
The 6disha Aining Corporation 0 Hs. 1+ crore.
Coal India G Hs. 1+ Crore.
The 6disha Hydro09ower Corporation and 6disha 9ower ?eneration
Corporation donated Hs. one crore each.
Cyclone shelters
Indian Institute of Technology ,IIT-* Bharagpur identified locations with
two ma@or postulates ,.1 km to get a safe shelter and without crossing a
natural =arrier-
#++ kmph and moderate earth2uakes.
Its plinth is abo$e High %lood line ,H%F- and standing on a
stilted floor* it can remain unaffected in storm surge up to the
1
st
floor le$el.
Community %ased shelter manaement
6S5A( 0 8. Aultipurpose Cyclone Shelters. ,#. 0 ;orld =ank
assistance* )+ 0 Chief Ainister3s Helief %und-
/1 0 9rime Ainister3s National Helief %und ,Cnder construction-.
)1 Aultipurpose Cyclone Shelters 0 Indian Hed Cross Society*
6rissa
Totally 0 +# cyclone shelters are in place in $arious $ulnerable
locations in si" coastal districts of the State.
Community %ased cyclone shelter manaement and maintenance
committees )C*$$C*)
Chairmanship 0 =56
Community Eolunteer as Secretary
Focal Tahasildar* Aedical 6fficer* 7unior !ngineer of the
=lock* He$enue Inspector* Head Aaster of the School* (NA
and (nganwadi Super$isor are !"06fficio Aembers of the
Committee.
local N?6* SH? and SC I ST communities are also
members of the Committee.
Aost of the buildings ha$e been constructed in School premises so
that the buildings will be used for School purposes during normal
time.