Early warning, well-planned response limit Fani toll to 6
Improved IMD System, Massive Evacuation Save Many Lives
Vishwa Mohan & Rajani Yadav
4.5.2019
Coastal Odisha on Friday faced the wrath of “extremely severe” cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, but India Meteorological Department’s improved warning system, successful evacuation of lakhs of people, better Centre-state coordination and the highest
ever deployment by NDRF limited casualties. Government authorities confirmed six deaths, though news agencies reported eight.
Areas in Fani’s path were battered. There was extensive damage to kuccha houses in Puri, 160 people were admitted to hospital for treatment, the residence of the SP and DM were badly damaged and there was a serious disruption of power supply.
However, IMD’s new regional hurricane model helped avert a higher toll and showed how accuracy in tracking and forecasting landfall has progressed since the 1999 super cyclone that killed close to 10,000 people.
11.5L people evacuated in Odisha, AP and WB
After success in responding to the more recent Phailin (October 2013) and Hudhud (October 2014) cyclones, central agencies and state governments were able to manage a massive evacuation. Repeated warnings reduced casualties at sea and infrastructure by way of storm bunkers was available, particularly in states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh that are seen to be more vulnerable.
Local disaster management authorities in Odisha and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were on their toes. The NDRF, in fact, made its highest ever deployment by putting 65 teams on the ground with 38 in Odisha. Over 11.5 lakh people were evacuated in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal in the past three days.
IMD’s systems came in for praise. “It’s a very significant achievement for IMD. I wrote a congratulatory note to its director general (K J Ramesh) today for averting a major crisis. The department has successfully used its regional hurricane model in addition to other existing models,” said Madhavan Rajeevan, ministry of earth sciences’ (MoES) secretary.
Rajeevan told TOI that the new regional model, having ocean components in addition to atmospheric ones in other models, could track the cyclone better. Cyclone ‘Fani’ is only the second storm in the past over 126 years to form over the Bay of Bengal and cross India’s mainland in April. The last severe cyclone Nargis, formed in April over the Bay of Bengal, had devastated Myanmar in 2008.
Full report on www.toi.in
FULL COVERAGE: P 7 & 10
›Preparations on a war footing, P 10
Improved IMD System, Massive Evacuation Save Many Lives
Vishwa Mohan & Rajani Yadav
4.5.2019
Coastal Odisha on Friday faced the wrath of “extremely severe” cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, but India Meteorological Department’s improved warning system, successful evacuation of lakhs of people, better Centre-state coordination and the highest
ever deployment by NDRF limited casualties. Government authorities confirmed six deaths, though news agencies reported eight.
Areas in Fani’s path were battered. There was extensive damage to kuccha houses in Puri, 160 people were admitted to hospital for treatment, the residence of the SP and DM were badly damaged and there was a serious disruption of power supply.
However, IMD’s new regional hurricane model helped avert a higher toll and showed how accuracy in tracking and forecasting landfall has progressed since the 1999 super cyclone that killed close to 10,000 people.
11.5L people evacuated in Odisha, AP and WB
After success in responding to the more recent Phailin (October 2013) and Hudhud (October 2014) cyclones, central agencies and state governments were able to manage a massive evacuation. Repeated warnings reduced casualties at sea and infrastructure by way of storm bunkers was available, particularly in states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh that are seen to be more vulnerable.
Local disaster management authorities in Odisha and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were on their toes. The NDRF, in fact, made its highest ever deployment by putting 65 teams on the ground with 38 in Odisha. Over 11.5 lakh people were evacuated in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal in the past three days.
IMD’s systems came in for praise. “It’s a very significant achievement for IMD. I wrote a congratulatory note to its director general (K J Ramesh) today for averting a major crisis. The department has successfully used its regional hurricane model in addition to other existing models,” said Madhavan Rajeevan, ministry of earth sciences’ (MoES) secretary.
Rajeevan told TOI that the new regional model, having ocean components in addition to atmospheric ones in other models, could track the cyclone better. Cyclone ‘Fani’ is only the second storm in the past over 126 years to form over the Bay of Bengal and cross India’s mainland in April. The last severe cyclone Nargis, formed in April over the Bay of Bengal, had devastated Myanmar in 2008.
Full report on www.toi.in
FULL COVERAGE: P 7 & 10
›Preparations on a war footing, P 10
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