Odisha

8th Anniv Of Cyclone Phailin: When Odisha Became Global Leader In Disaster Preparedness

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Odisha witnessed two consecutive cyclones in 2013 and 2014 on this day. The severe cyclone Phailin hit Gopalpur coast on October 12, 2013, evening while cyclone Hud Hud hit Visakhapatnam exactly on the same day in 2014. Both the cyclones caused devastation in the southern parts of Odisha.

A very strong cyclone developed over the Bay of Bengal and crossed Odisha coast near Gopalpur at 2.45 pm on October 12, 2013, with windspeeds touching 220 kmph making the storm a category 4 cyclone. It was called Phailin, a name proposed by Thailand after the word, sapphire.

This first cyclone of the 21st century was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in India since the 1999 Odisha cyclone until Cyclone Amphan hit Odisha in May 2019.

Eighteen out of the thirty districts in the state were affected by the storm and subsequent floods. The majority of damages were due to high-speed winds followed by flooding ensued by torrential rains. The observed storm surge was up to about 3.5 m above normal, inundating large areas in Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and around the Chilika lagoon. The cyclone left 44 people dead, damaged about 256,600 homes and affected about 13.2 million people in over 18,370 villages, the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project report said.

And it was the first time the world took note of Odisha’s disaster preparedness. Around one million people were evacuated to nearby cyclone/flood shelters and to other identified safe buildings. This was one of the largest evacuations ever done in the recorded history of Disaster Management in India. In addition, the state government opened 4,197 free kitchens centres from October 11 onwards. A total of 185 medical teams were mobilized and 338 medical relief centres were opened. 

Due to the effective pre-positioning of men, machinery and materials and the able coordination among state, national and local agencies, the restoration of connectivity was carried out in an impressive manner.

In December 2013, United Nations (UN) on Friday appreciated the Odisha government’s handling of cyclone Phailin. The international body also announced that it would highlight the state’s efforts as a model for disaster management programmes globally.

“The Odisha government managed to reduce human deaths during Phailin by evacuating around one million people from the seaside areas. The authorities also made people aware of the areas which were vulnerable and saved many lives,” said Margareta Wahlstrom, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, at an event in Bhubaneswar. “Today, Odisha is a global leader in disaster management and risk reduction,” she added.

The United Nations also felicitated Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by presenting a citation and invited him to attend an international conference on disaster risk reduction, being held in Japan in 2015.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Rs 7.3 Lakh Looted From GSK Employee In Broad Daylight In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: In a daring act, unidentified miscreants allegedly looted Rs 7.3 lakh cash from a…

November 8, 2024

Don’t Give Into Blackmailing, Immediately Report To Police: Cuttack DCP

Cuttack: Following the alleged gangrape of a college girl, Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena on Friday…

November 8, 2024

Elon Musk’s Estranged Daughter Wants To Leave US; Here’s Why?

New Delhi: Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of Elon Musk, says she is leaving…

November 8, 2024

Fact Check: ‘Secret Memo’ Links Indian Diplomats With Violent Crimes In West?

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday stated that a ‘secret memo’ that…

November 8, 2024

Law Minister Assures ‘Crime-Free Odisha For Women’ By 2036 Amid Outrage Over Cuttack Gangrape

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Amid statewide outrage over alleged gang-rape of a girl college student in Odisha's Cuttack…

November 8, 2024

CID To Investigate Case Of ‘Missing Samosas’ Meant For Himachal CM? Where Did They Vanish?

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted in Himachal Pradesh over samosas that went missing from…

November 8, 2024

IT Engineer Held For Raping Colleague On False Promise Of Marriage In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: An IT engineer was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Friday on charges of…

November 8, 2024

In-Charge Medical Officer & Pharmacist Caught Taking Rs 40K Bribe In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Friday apprehended medical officer in-charge of Boipariguda Community Health…

November 8, 2024