Effects of Cyclone Amphan in India

Cyclone Amphan

Cyclone Amphan making landfall on West Bengal on 20 May

Meteorological history
Date| 20–21 May 2020
Very severe cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained (IMD)
Highest winds| 155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure| 960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds| 175 km/h (110 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities| 98
Damage| $13.5 billion (2020 USD)
Areas affected| West Bengal, Odisha, Bangladesh

* * *

Part of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclone Amphan was the costliest tropical cyclone ever recorded in India and the North Indian Ocean, and the strongest cyclone ever since the 1999 Odisha Cyclone. It was the first storm, and strongest of the historic 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, the costliest recorded cyclone season. It made landfall in West Bengal with 100 mph winds. Within India, the storm killed 98 people, and caused $13.8 billion (2020 USD). Amphan produced extremely high winds that ripped roofs off houses and uprooted trees, and storm surges of 15 ft (4.6 m) in areas like Digha, West Bengal.[1][2]

## Background

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

During 13 May 2020, an area of low pressure developed over the Southeastern Bay of Bengal about 1020 km (635 mi) to the southeast of Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[3][4]

Over the next couple of days, the system became more marked as it gradually consolidated further, with bands of deep atmospheric convection wrapping into the system's low-level center.[5][6] During 16 May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the area of low pressure had developed into a depression and designated it as BOB 01 while it was located about 1,100 km (685 mi) to the south of Paradip in the Indian state of Odisha.[7] Moving northwards, the depression continually organized and became a cyclonic storm a few hours later, receiving the name Amphan. Due to conductive environments., Amphan underwent rapid intensification into a severe cyclonic storm, with the JTWC assessing an increase in winds from 140 km/h (87 mph) at 12:00 UTC to 215 km/h (134 mph), the equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHWS), just six hours later.[8] Furthermore, the IMD upgraded Amphan to an extremely severe cyclonic storm on their cyclone intensity scale.[9] The broad storm was characterized by a cloud shield extending more than 1,110 km (690 mi) and a sharply-outlined 10 nautical mile-wide eye.[10]

On May 18, the IMD classified Amphan as a Super Cyclonic Storm, with 3-minute sustained winds of 240 kph, reaching its peak intensity later that day.[11]

Early on May 20, Amphan went through an eyewall replacement cycle.[12] Amphan was on a weakening trend.[13] Around 5:30 p.m. IST (12:00 UTC), Amphan made landfall as a Very Severe Cyclonic storm near Bakkhali, West Bengal with winds of 155 km/h (96 mph).[14] As it moved further inland, Amphan rapidly weakened. Just six hours after landfall, the JTWC downgraded the storm to a Category 1-equivalent cyclone and issued its final warning on the system, as it became disorganized.[15] On 21 May, Amphan dissipated into a well-marked low pressure area.

## Preparations

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Amphan approaching East India and Bangladesh on 19 May

### Odisha

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The government of Odisha directed the magistrates of four districts on 15 May to establish shelter homes for possible evacuees.[16] Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy initially identified 403 possible cyclone shelters in areas potentially impacted by Amphan, though 105 served as temporary medical centres for quarantines associated with the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Shelters could only be filled to one-third capacity to maintain social distancing guidelines due to the pandemic.[18][19]

### West Bengal

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Satellite animation of Amphan rapidly intensifying on 17 May.

Social distancing restrictions in West Bengal reduced evacuation capacity in shelters from 500,000 people to 200,000 people.[20] The Kolkata Municipal Corporation located schools and community centres for possible use as temporary shelters to augment evacuation capacity.[21][22] At least 1,704 shelters were ultimately established in Odisha and more than 2,000 were used in West Bengal, including schools and public buildings.[23] The government of West Bengal planned to evacuate 200,000 people from their homes by 18 May;[24] nearly 300,000 people evacuated in total from the state, including 200,000 from North 24 Parganas district and more than 40,000 from Sagar Island.[25][26][27]

## Impact

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### West Bengal

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Damage from Cyclone Amphan in Kolkata

The coastal districts recorded an estimated gusts of 180 km/h (110 mph).[28]

In Kolkata, reports of car being overturned, trees uprooted and downed power lines caused into havoc. Some parts of the city remained without power. The streets were waterlogged and trees blocking the roads. Some districts got power in the middle of the night after the storm had passed. The airport was remained shut and became waterlogged, many structural damages were reported.[29] Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee even stated that "a bigger disaster than Covid-19".[28] Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata, recorded highest wind speed of 133 km/h on 20 May 2020. Other parts of Kolkata experienced wind speed of 110–130 km/h.[30]

### Odisha

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Although the state have escaped the worst part of the cyclone, it caused significant impact in the Odisha–West Bengal border districts. It affected 4.5 million people in the state. Due to high gust winds and intense rainfall, districts like Bhadrak and Kendrapara suffered especially for the paddy farmers since the paddy fields became unsuitable for paddy cultivation which was inundated by saline water due to storm surge. According to the Odisha Government, 3 million people remained without power due to power outage and it took a while to return to normalcy whereas the roads were being cleared by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). In Mahakalapada and Rajanagar, around 500 acres (200 ha) of lands were destroyed also because of saline water ingression and hundreds of acres of rabi crops were destroyed in Balasore and Bhadrak district.[31]

In the Dharma Port, an estimated wind speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) were recorded while Paradip recorded only 100 km/h (60 mph).[32]

### South India

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Amphan weakening over Bangladesh as unsettled weather extends into Bhutan

Rains and strong winds from Amphan swept across many districts in Kerala beginning on May 16.[33] Thunderstorms associated with Amphan caused severe coastal erosion in the Valiyathura suburb of Thiruvananthapuram, damaging roads and destroying homes and threatening to displace over a hundred families from their homes.[34] Strong winds inflicted severe damage in Kottayam district, especially in Vaikom taluk, where homes and temples were impacted and trees and electric poles were downed.[35]

A ₹1.47 billion (US$19.3 million) damage toll resulted from the destruction of 16 homes and the partial damage of 313 homes.[36] A high school used as a homeless shelter collapsed, causing minor injuries.[35]

Tamil Nadu faced some impact from the cyclone. Heavy winds damaged at least 100 boats anchored in the Ramanathapuram district.[37] Coastal erosion from rough seas generated by Amphan led to the collapse of three houses at Bommayarpalayam in Viluppuram district.[38] Roughly 35 acres of banana crops around Gandarvakottai and Aranthangi were destroyed.[39] Northern areas of the state have heatwave-like conditions for a week because Amphan took all of the area's moisture.[40]

In Sooradapeta, near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, rough seas destroyed 35 homes and damaged several others.[41]

## Aftermath

[edit]

### International Relief

[edit]

German NGO Welthungerlife released 100,000 Euro to fund Cyclone Amphan relief efforts.[42]

### West Bengal

[edit]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi making an aerial survey of Cyclone Amphan affected areas of West Bengal on May 22, 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting after the aerial survey of the Cyclone Amphan affected areas of West Bengal, in Basirhat on May 22, 2020.

On 22 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey over Kolkata, along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.[43] Modi announced a ₹10 billion (US$132 million) immediate relief package for West Bengal and ₹5 billion (US$66.2 million) in relief for Odisha.[44][45] In advance, Modi announced that ₹200,000 (US$2,650) would be provided to the next of kin of people who died during the storm, and ₹50,000 (US$660) would be given to each injured person.[44] West Bengal CM Banerjee stated that it would take three to four days to assess the damage.[46] Twenty disaster relief teams were dispatched by the Indian Coast Guard to begin search and rescue operations.[46] Ten teams were sent to West Bengal to aid recovery, in addition to the NDRF teams pre-positioned there before Amphan's passage.[47] Also since most of the water pumps are operated in electricity and due to no electricity, several district suffered from water shortage which caused additional protest.[48] Approximately 1,000 ground teams worked to restore infrastructure and services in West Bengal after Amphan, though only 25–30 percent of workers were staffed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[49] The resulting slow restoration of power sparked protests across West Bengal aimed primarily at electricity company CESC.[50] Some restoration efforts were disrupted by these protests.[51] The Home Department of West Bengal requested additional crews from railway and port interest, while five brigades from the Indian Army were deployed in Kolkata and the 24 Parganas districts to support recovery efforts.[47][50] The government of Odisha sent 500 members of its disaster rapid action force and fire service to West Bengal.[47]

The European Union stated that it would initially provide €500,000 (US$545,000) for those affected by the storm in India.[47]

### Odisha

[edit]

Additional assistance was requested from Jharkhand and Odisha.[49] Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik performed an aerial survey of the damage in his state following Amphan.[52]

## See also

[edit]

* Tropical cyclones portal
* India portal

* Tropical cyclones in 2020
* Tropical cyclones in India
* 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
* List of Bangladesh tropical cyclones
* List of North Indian cyclone seasons
* Cyclone Amphan (2020) — For more information about Cyclone Amphan
* Effects of the 2020 North Indian cyclone season in India
* Cyclone Sidr (2007) — A storm that had a similar intensity, took a similar track and devastated similar areas.
* 1999 Odisha Cyclone — A storm that became the most intense tropical cyclone in the basin.
* Cyclone Aila (2009) — A cyclone that devastated India and Bangladesh
* Cyclone Phailin (2013) — Took a similar path and devastated Odisha
* Cyclone Bulbul (2019) — A cyclone that made landfall in West Bengal just six months before Amphan
* 1970 Bhola cyclone — Took a similar track and devastated Bangladesh

## References

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1. ^ Bloch, Matthew (2020-05-20). "Live Cyclone Amphan Map: Tracking the Storm's Path". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
2. ^ Freedman, Andrew; Slater, Joanna. "Cyclone Amphan poses extreme storm surge danger for eastern India, Bangladesh". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
3. ^ Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean May 13, 2020 06z (Report). India Meteorological Department. 13 May 2020.
4. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean May 13, 2020 18z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 13 May 2020.
5. ^ Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean May 14, 2020 06z (Report). India Meteorological Department. 14 May 2020.
6. ^ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert May 15, 2020 10z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
7. ^ Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean May 16, 2020 04:05z (Report). India Meteorological Department. 14 May 2020.
8. ^ "Indias Super Cyclone – Amphan". Severe weather.eu. 19 May 2020.
9. ^ "Bulletin no. 19 (Bay of Bengal 01/2020)" (PDF). rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in.
10. ^ "Tropical cyclone Amphan threatens India and Bangladesh". World Meteorological Organization. 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.
11. ^ "IMD Best track" (PDF). 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
12. ^ "Life threatening storm surge – Cyclone Amphan". The Washington Post.
13. ^ "Amphan continues to weaken as it bears down on the Bengal coast". 16 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
14. ^ "In pictures: Cyclone Amphan hits India and Bangladesh". CNN.
15. ^ "Tropical cyclone 01B (Amphan) Warning Nr 018". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 20 May 2020.
16. ^ Mohanty, Debabrata. "Odisha bracing for possible cyclone, 12 districts on alert". Hindustan Times. HT Media Limited.
17. ^ "CM Naveen Patnaik sets 'zero casualty' target for cyclone Amphan". The New Indian Express. Bhubaneswar, India. Express News Service. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
18. ^ Nandi, Jayashree; Thakur, Joydeep (18 May 2020). "Cyclone Amphan likely to intensify, hit Bengal soon". Hindustan Times. Bhubaneswar, India.
19. ^ "Amphan: India and Bangladesh evacuate millions ahead of super cyclone". BBC News. BBC.
20. ^ Brackett, Ron (18 May 2020). "India, Bangladesh Tell Millions to Evacuate as Tropical Cyclone Amphan Approaches". The Weather Channel. TWC Product and Technology.
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25. ^ Freedman, Andrew; Slater, Joanna. "Cyclone Amphan poses extreme storm surge danger for eastern India, Bangladesh". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.
26. ^ Nag, Jayari. "West Bengal: Three lakh people evacuated to safety ahead of 'Amphan' landfall". Bangalore Mirror. Bennett, Coleman & Company.
27. ^ Loiwal, Manogya. "Alert sounded, preparations underway to safeguard districts in West Bengal from cyclone Amphan". India Today. Digha, India: Living Media India.
28. ^ a b "Amphan: Kolkata devastated as cyclone kills scores in India and Bangladesh". BBC News. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
29. ^ "At Least 12 Dead As Cyclone Amphan Wrecks Parts Of Bengal: 10 Points". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
30. ^ "Cyclone Amphan batters Bengal, winds over 120 kmph in Kolkata". Hindustan Times. 2020-05-20. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
31. ^ Barik, Satyasundar (2020-05-21). "Super cyclone Amphan leaves 45 lakh affected in Odisha". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
32. ^ "3 dead as Cyclone Amphan crosses Odisha before making landfall in Bengal". Hindustan Times. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
33. ^ N., Smitha (18 May 2020). "Cyclone Amphan intensifies, heavy rains in Kerala". Deccan Chronicle. Kochi, India. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
34. ^ Mohan, Shainu (20 May 2020). "Super Cyclone Amphan ravages coast". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
35. ^ a b "Strong winds wreak havoc in Kottayam; Vaikom badly hit". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
36. ^ "Temples, houses suffer damage in storm in Kerala". Deccan Herald. Thiruvananthapuram, India: The Printers. Deccan Herald News Service. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
37. ^ "100 boats damaged in heavy winds". The Hindu. Rameswarm, India: THG Publishing. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
38. ^ Marx, Karal (19 May 2020). "Cyclone Amphan: Three houses collapse in TN due to coastal erosion". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Company. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
39. ^ "Tamil Nadu reports widespread destruction of Banana crops after strong winds and rain hit coastal districts". All India Radio. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
40. ^ "Chennai braces for heatwave due to super cyclone Amphan, mercury breaches 40-degree mark". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
41. ^ "Fishermen hamlet reels under Amphan impact". The Hindu. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
42. ^ "Cyclone Amphan Complicates COVID-19 Response as Relief Efforts Underway in Bangladesh and India's West Bengal State - Health Policy Watch". 25 May 2020.
43. ^ "In PM Modi's aerial survey of cyclone-hit Bengal, CM Mamata a co-traveller". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
44. ^ a b "PM Modi announces Rs 1,000 cr immediate relief for Cyclone Amphan-hit Bengal". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
45. ^ "PM Modi announces Rs 500 crore advance relief for cyclone-hit Odisha". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
46. ^ a b Regan, Helen; Westcott, Ben; Sud, Vedika; Suri, Manveena; Reynolds, Emma (20 May 2020). "Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in India and tracks for Kolkata". CNN. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
47. ^ a b c d "Cyclone Amphan: Protests erupt as Bengal reels under storm aftermath; Army deployed for restoration work". The Indian Express. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
48. ^ "People in Kolkata stage protests demanding restoration of power, water supply". India Today. May 22, 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
49. ^ a b "Mamata pegs cyclone Amphan damage at ₹1 lakh crore, toll rises to 86". The Hindu. THG Publishing. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
50. ^ a b Dutt, Ishita Ayan (23 May 2020). "After devastation from cyclone Amphan, Army deployed in West Bengal". Business Standard. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
51. ^ "Agitated mob obstructs telecom restoration work in Amphan-hit areas of West Bengal". Deccan Herald. Kolkata, India: The Printers. Press Trust of India. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
52. ^ "Cyclone Amphan LIVE Updates: Cyclone begins landfall, process to last for four hours". The Hans India. Hyderabad Media Hous. Hans News Service. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.