CYCLONE BIPARJOY: Learning from the Past to Strengthen Disaster Management

- by Antarixa Bhardwaj

Nature's fury knows no bounds, and cyclones serve as stark reminders of its power. Cyclone Biparjoy, aptly named by Bangladesh, signifies the cataclysmic nature of these weather phenomena. As we witness the approach of this cyclone which has been making headlines it is crucial to reflect on the lessons learned from past experiences, particularly the disastrous Cyclone Tauktae, and emphasize the importance of effective disaster management to mitigate the potential devastation.Originating from the Greek word "cyclos," meaning a snake's coils, cyclones are rapidly rotating low-pressure systems. In the Northern Hemisphere, the air moves counterclockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it moves clockwise. Such storms, often observed in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, resemble coiled sea serpents, hence the name. These weather phenomena are notorious for their destructive winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and adverse conditions that follow in their wake. Even though these are technical terms for a layman like us, India’s geographical location makes it vulnerable to the ever-approaching cyclones and high tides.India, situated in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, is prone to frequent cyclones and severe storms. The country has a history of enduring devastating cyclones like the Odisha Cyclone of 1999, Cyclone Nisarga, and Cyclone Amphan. Given these recurring threats, efficient cyclone disaster management becomes crucial to safeguard lives and livelihoods.

Unlike the cyclones in the past, from where India’s disaster management has failed to learn a lesson, Cyclone Tauktae served as a wake-up call for India, highlighting the need to enhance disaster management efforts. It exposed vulnerabilities in existing systems and emphasized the importance of proactive measures to protect lives and minimize damage. This can be contributed to the delay in the management because it was only in 2016, which is more than 10 years that the country got its national plan for disaster management- Disaster Management Act 2005 The lessons learned from Tauktae are now crucial in preparing for and effectively managing the potential impact of Cyclone Biparjoy.  

Even though we cannot change the location of the country and ship it to a safer location, what we can formulate is a better disaster management plan. India needs to make significant strides in disaster management, with dedicated agencies like the National Disaster Management Authority and the Indian Meteorological Department leading the way. Cyclone disaster management in India involves a coordinated effort by the government, particularly the National Disaster Management Authority and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in collaboration with state governments. In the past, due to delayed warnings and responses both at the national and state levels, there has been an enormous loss. Rather than this considered to be a lesson, the cyclone warning system should consider the human response to alerts as a constituent part and take into account human dimensions in its operational design in order to achieve its goals.