Cyclones in India

Cyclones in India [1]

Additional image::

[1]

The term cyclone includes all tropical storms. They start as swirls of cloud and rain that eventually intensify into storms.The Indian sub-continent is the worst affected part in the world. Although India accounts for only six per cent of the cyclones worldwide, it records the maximum damage. Past 122 years' data shows November and May have the maximum cyclone frequency over the North Indian Ocean. Cyclones devastate life and property in the affected areas. The 1999 Orissa super cyclone rendered a third of the population homeless. The 1998 Gujrat cyclone caused export losses worth about Rs 8,400 million at the Kandla port

Natural guardians

Mangrove forests protect against cyclones. Their disappearance spells doom for the coastal communities

Mangrove minimise devastation to human settlements, flora
   and fauna from cyclones.
Clearing forests and mangrove has intensified the cyclonic
   destruction as winds that were counteracted by vegetation now
   sweep over the land.
Mangrove forests are under threat from human encroachments,
   land reclamation, illegal clearing and agricultural practices.

Publication Date:

Friday, June 29, 2001

Source: Down to Earth [2]

Vol:

Volume No:

Issue:

Issue No:

20010630

pp:

Tags: