Devastation Limited

SUPER-CYCLONE \\ The fiercest storm to hit India this century barrelled across the Bay of Bengal in this month. Cyclone Phailin slammed into Odisha and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh with winds gusting at more than 200kmph (125mph). Cyclone Pahilin hit the very same region which was hit by a Super Cyclone 14 years ago. In those days it had killed 10,000 people. But this time, the toll was low, at the latest count 21, thanks to the speedy response of the bureacracy, administration and especially Dr M. Mohapatra, heading the cyclone forecast division at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Coastal India was saved the brunt of the super cyclone also because of this local mandarin who frantically worked to lead the charge in the rescue operation to move nearly a million people to safety. As a team he settled on districts that he predicted would be worst hit: Ganjam, Srikakulam, Puri and Kalingapatnam. Initial data after Phailin ripped through Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh show that they were spot on.

“It (the 1999 one) was a super cyclone with a wind speed of more than 260kmph. This time it was only 210 kmph. In 1999, the storm surge (rise of waves on the shore) was 6m and this time it was just 3.5m. This time the cyclone hit a steep area. Paradip, with its port and major rivers such as Mahanadi, is a deltaic area. So the inundation was 35km. This time it was estimated at 600m. Also, now we have better technology which helps us issue early forecasts,” Mohapatra declared.