Cyclone Prone Areas in India

Source: utkaltoday.in

In the past few decades, India witnessed several natural calamities (flood, drought, cyclones, and earthquakes), of which floods have affected the country massively. Cyclones usually occur in the May-June and October-November time frame. Though the impacts of these cyclones can be felt throughout the entire Indian coast, the Eastern coast is more prone than to Western coast.

Wondering which states and districts are cyclone-prone areas in India? Take a look at the list of cyclone-prone states and districts in India, and you will get a clear idea.

West Bengal

1. Bhola Cyclone - 1970

2. Cyclone Amphan - 2020

Cyclone Amphan was the first tropical cyclone of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. This cyclone developed in a low-pressure area situated 300 km east of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reported fatalities of Cyclone Amphan numbered 128, covering countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

3. Cyclone BOB 03 - 2002

A severe cyclonic storm hit West Bengal on 12th November 2002. Around 173 people died in this storm.

4. Cyclone Aila - 2009

Affecting around 1 lakh people, this cyclonic storm hit several regions of West Bengal on 23 May 2009.

Factors Influencing Cyclones in West Bengal

• Geo-physical and topographical condition of the place.
• Low pressure created over the Bay of Bengal causes cyclones in the coastal parts and nearby cities in West Bengal.
• As per study, there has been a significant drop of 8 percent in the number of cyclones, originating from the Bay of Bengal between 2001 and 2019.

Frequency of Cyclones in West Bengal

• The frequency of storms occurring on the coastal stretch of West Bengal is high.
• As per 2018 statistics, an average of 1.15 tropical cyclones hit the coast of Bangladesh every year, which affects Eastern Indian states as well.

Preventive Measures Taken in West Bengal

• The Government has stressed strengthening weather forecasting systems using satellite images and computer methods.
• Further, they have extended to reach out to more people living in cyclone-prone areas through information media and television.
• They have set up a Disaster Management Bureau to efficiently conduct disaster management at both local and national levels.
• The State Government of West Bengal took all the necessary steps to evacuate people from the coastal areas.
• The State Government of West Bengal has opened control rooms to monitor situations.
• SDRF and NDRF forces along with several teams of the disaster management department have been employed in the coastal areas of West Bengal

Andhra Pradesh

5. Super Cyclonic Storm BOB 01 - 1990

The formation of Super Cyclonic storm BOB 01 occurred on 4th May 1990. This cyclone made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on 9th May 1990, which made its entry into the Category 3 tropical cyclone. Around 967 people were killed due to this cyclone, and it was considered the worst to affect South India in the pre-monsoon season.

6. Cyclone Pyarr - 2005

Cyclone Pyarr took the rare path from the southeast to the northeast in September in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall on Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 65 people were reported dead in Andhra and Odisha.

7. Cyclone Hudhud - 2014

The strong tropical cyclone Hudhud caused severe damage in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone made landfall on 12th October 2014 with a wind speed of 215-240 kmph in Visakhapatnam. Apart from Visakhapatnam or Vizag, Odisha was also massively impacted. The casualties caused by strong winds and heavy rain took around 124 lives.

Factors Influencing Cyclone in Andhra Pradesh

• When the ocean temperature cools down in the month of October-November, it causes fluctuations in the upper air level, causing cyclones.
• Climate change is another factor that changes the pattern of cyclones making the tropical cyclones more intense.
• Increase in the temperature in the Bay of Bengal.

Frequency of Cyclones in Andhra Pradesh

Cyclones having moderate to severe intensity struck Andhra Pradesh every two to three years. Andhra Pradesh has witnessed nearly 60 cyclones since 1975.

Preventive Measures Taken in Andhra Pradesh

• The Central Government has made the National Disaster Response Force tackle the cyclonic situations and aftermath in the affected areas.
• The State Government has set up control rooms in cyclone-prone areas to monitor situations.
• Cyclone and flood centres were created and made usable for house evacuees.
• The State Government took necessary steps to gather correct information regarding the upcoming cyclones in Andhra Pradesh.

8. Cyclone Vardah – 2016

Originating from the Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Vardah is the second strongest storm to have hit India. It severely affected the interior regions of Andhra Pradesh with heavy rainfall. With a wind speed of more than 110 kmph, this cyclone also led to landfall on the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh.

9. Cyclone Titli – 2018

Andhra Pradesh was hit by another deadly and severe cyclonic storm, named Cyclone Titli in October 2018, affecting about 3 lakh people. This cyclone originated from the Andaman coast and developed into a depression around the Bay of Bengal, further leading to a landfall in the state.

Odisha

10. Odisha Cyclone - 1999

Odisha Cyclone occurred in 1999 was one of the deadliest recorded tropical cyclones (with a speed of 260-270 kmph) in the North Indian Ocean. The destructive cyclone made landfall on 29th October 1999. As per the reports, nearly 9887 people lost their lives due to this cyclone, and thousands of people lost their homes. As a result of this storm, diarrhoea and cholera spread among people.

11. Cyclone Phailin - 2013

12. Cyclone Fani - 2019

Cyclone Fani that occurred in May 2019 is considered an extremely severe cyclonic storm. The intensity of this storm was equivalent to the category-4 hurricane. Almost 40 people were reported dead as a result of this cyclone.

13. Cyclone Yaas - 2021

Cyclone Yaas made landfall in Odisha's Bhadrak district on 26th May, 2021. This storm affected parts of Odisha and West Bengal with a wind speed of 130-145 kmph. A total of 20 people were killed due to cyclone Yaas.

Factors Influencing Cyclones in Odisha

• Climate change has caused a rise in temperature, which made Odisha one of the cyclone-prone states in India, particularly on the east coast.

Frequency of Cyclones in Odisha

Preventive Measures Taken in Odisha

• The State Government of Odisha has emphasized tree pruning to reduce cyclonic effects.
• Further, they have stationed an emergency restoration system at several areas, including Balasore, Bhadrak to ensure continued electricity supply after the cyclone stops.
• The State Government has launched an evacuation system in the low lying and cyclone-prone areas in India.
• Odisha Government also installed India’s first Early Warning Dissemination System in the cyclone-prone districts and coastal regions of the state.

Tamil Nadu

14. Cyclonic Storm Nisha-2008

In December 2008, Cyclone storm Nisha made landfall over Cuddalore and damaged major parts of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Around 200 people died in this storm. This storm ranked 10th wettest in the Indian Ocean basin.

15. Cyclone Phyan-2009

16. Cyclone Vardah-2016

Cyclone Vardah caused heavy rainfall on the Andaman Nicobar Islands, and after changing its course, i.e.crossing the eastern coast, it affected Kancheepuram, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam. This cyclone killed almost 38 people.

17. Cyclone Ochki-2017

Cyclone Ochki was one of the strongest cyclones of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season of 2017. The cyclone formed in the Arabian sea and affected both the mainland and coastal areas (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat) of India. Nearly 245 people were killed in this storm.

Factors Influencing Cyclones in Tamil Nadu

The physiographic location of Sri Lanka causes most cyclones developed over the Bay of Bengal to be deflated towards the north. Subsequently, the north coast of Sri Lanka along with Indian states including Tamil Nadu are more prone to cyclones than the southern part.

Frequency of Cyclones in Tamil Nadu

Preventive Measures Taken in Tamil Nadu

• The Government has set up several relief camps and shifted people living in low-lying areas to these camps.
• Teams of the National Disaster Response Force are deployed during emergency situations.

Insurance Products People Living in Cyclone Hit Areas Should Buy

Home Insurance Policy: People living in cyclone-prone states in India must buy home insurance policies to protect their immovable assets from natural calamities. Under the home insurance policy, one can claim for the damage caused by natural disasters like a cyclone. 

You can buy a home insurance policy for both the structure and content of houses. The tenure of these policies depends on the type chosen. For instance, you can buy a home insurance policy for 1-30 years, for structure and content for 1-5 years, for content only for 1-5 years.

Home Insurance Policy: People living in cyclone-prone states in India must buy home insurance policies to protect their immovable assets from natural calamities, including cyclones. Under the home insurance policy, one can claim for the damage caused by natural disasters like a cyclone. Additionally, individuals living in cyclone-hit areas should also consider investing in life insurance, health insurance, and term insurance products.

Life insurance provides a financial safety net for loved ones in the event of the policyholder's death due to a cyclone or any other cause. Health insurance ensures access to quality healthcare services in case of injuries or health issues resulting from cyclone-related incidents. Term insurance offers a specific coverage amount for a defined period, making it an affordable yet effective option for providing protection during times of crisis.

Understanding the past cyclone history of the area they live in, individuals should proactively purchase home insurance policies and other insurance products to safeguard their assets and financial well-being.