Fani Cyclone Report

FANI CYCLONE REPORT - 2019

 (By Mantosh Giri) 

Odisha is known as the disaster capital in India; Cyclones are the main causes of huge damage in the eastern part of Odisha, which is situated near the Bay of Bengal. Major Strom/Cyclone hit Odisha last few years: Super Cyclone 1999, Phailin 2013, Hudhud 2014, Title 2018 and Fani 2019. Every year during April to June month Cyclone is formed in the Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean. 

Tropical Cyclone Fani: 

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm „FANI‟ made landfall on the Odisha Coast on 03.05.2019 at 8 a.m.; the wind speed was 200 kph (124 mph). The cyclone Fani, one of the strongest cyclones in the last 20 years. A Low-pressure area was formed over east equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) and adjoining southeast of Bay of Bengal (BoB) on 25.04.2019 intensifying into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over southeast & adjoining the southwest Bay of Bengal. It intensified into a very cyclonic storm “FANI” over southeast & adjoining southwest BoB on 30.04.2019 and further intensifying into Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm „Fani‟ over west-central & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on 01.05.2019. It first moves towards Tamilnadu, but surprisingly its direction has been changed towards Odisha coastal Area. The landfall point of Fani was Odisha‟s most beautiful tourism and cultural place Puri. Fani made a huge damage in Odisha till 04.05.2019 early morning. In the end, it affects West Bengal and Bangladesh till 05.05.2019. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categories Fani as Fourth category Storm: Extremely Severe Cyclonic Strom (166-220 km/h). The name of the Cyclone „Fani‟, Pronounced as „Foni‟ was suggested by Bangladesh. It means „Snake‟ or „hood of the snake‟. Fani affected Odisha‟s 14 districts: Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nayagarh and Cyclones Deaths 695,695 Flood Deaths 183,077 Others Disasters 36,616 Deaths caused disasters in Asia 1970-2012 Storm (Cyclones) Flood Others Jajpur; 159 Block, 52 Municipal Area, 52 Towns, 16,659 Villages are affected. The total number of casualties 41 (Puri 21, Khordha 4, Cuttack 5, Jajpur 4, Mayurbanj 4, Kendrapada 3), this number might be increasing. More than 1, 50, 94,321 peoples are affected. More than 87,093000 Animals/Birds affected and 34,056000 Animals/Birds has died. More than 5, 08,467 houses have been damaged. More than 12000 Hectare farming field crops have been damaged. More than 10 Million trees are uprooted. After the cyclone people are facing problems: Mobile network, Internet, Bank, ATM, Electric Power supply, Water supply, Medical Facilities, Fuel, The shop is not opening, lack of Salter and food. 

Fani Effects: 

Electric Supply: 

Because of this storm, thousands of electric supply poles, 33 kb supply, and electric stations are damage. In Puri 40000 electric poles and 28 power supply stations are damage. Near about 16000 workers with all kind of technology working day and night to connect electric supply as soon as possible. They are expecting between 15-20th may they will supply electric to hospitals and the water department. Now people are staying in darkness. 

Water Supply: 

Without electricity, the piped water supply mainly affected. The Odisha Government supplying Drinking water through a water tank, but it is not enough to meet their daily needs. 

Food Supply: 

People‟s all reserve food has damaged due to Cyclone. Shops are not opening from 3rd May. The food supply fully stopped because of a bad road communication system. Black market agents are increasing their food production rates very high. Now the Odisha Government providing cooking food (Rice and Dal) in some small camps. But they need more food camp. 

Medical Facilities:

Without electricity medical supply medical equipment are not working. Vaccines and injections are getting damage without having a cooling system. Medical operations are not possible without electricity. There are many hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack; thousands of people are admitted for their serious treatment. Now their life is in danger without any electric supply. Generator backup is not possible, due to lacking fuel. Medicine supplies and Ambulance services not possible due to bad road conditions. 

Communication: 

Road Communication During the cyclone millions of Trees, Hooding, Ajvester, Electric poles, and Concretes are fell down on the road; because of that road communication services are affecting. Telecom/internet Communication All mobile towers are broken or damage; without electricity people are unable to charge their mobile phones neither mobile tower is working; so that mobile communication and internet communication are affected. Apart from that banking sector and both government and non-government office sector are affected.

Cultivation and Crops: 

Due to Fani Cyclone; Betel leaf, Paddy, vegetable agriculture mainly affected. They lost them Crops and Vegetables. Without electricity, water pumps cold storage are not working; there Their crops and vegetables are damaging now. They are asking financial support from Government. 

Public Property Damage: 

Bijupatnayak International Airport, International hockey Stadium, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Jagannath Temple, Konarak Temple, Puri sea beach, Odisha Legislative Assembly house, Bus stands, Railway stations, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Children's parks, Hotels, Shopping centers, and offices are mainly damaged. Millions of houses are full collapses. People are needs help for their shelter. Many people are leaving their birthplace due to these problems.

Government Helps and Relief: 

India's Government working very fast for the restoration and relief work. They Activated 24x7 Helpline number 1938. Indian armed forces, State Police, Fire Department, Electrical Department, Water Supply Department, NDRF 38 team, Engineering Task Force (ETFs) Team, Indian Navy 5 ships, 6 aircraft & 7 helicopters working for rescue & relief work, Indian Air Force Deployed 2 C-17, 2 C-130, 4 AN-32 2 MI-17 at Jagdalpur & 4 MI-17 for the rescue & relief operation, Coast Guard‟s 6 Ships working for rescue & relief operation and many volunteer service team working together. Ministry of Power provided Transformers, DG sets in needy places. Ministry of Telecom declared all SMS cost is free. They are working very fast to restoration all towers. Ministry of Drinking Water provides 11 lakh (250ml ) drinking water pouches; 200 water purification units each with the capacity of 25 liters /hour and Chlorine tablets. Ministry of Food Processing Industries provided Drinking water – 7 lakh bottles (1 liter), Cartons biscuits – 6150, Biscuits & Cookies- 20MTs, Fruit juice, and beverages – 5470 cartons, Amul baby food – 1165 MT, Namkeen- 50000 Packets. 20 teams of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and 525 fire teams have been deployed for rescue and relief work. Nearly 4.5 lakh Polythene Sheets, 1,00,000 number of food packets dropped from the air; 11,59,439 persons in 14 districts staying in 6564 cyclone shelters, they are getting free cooking food over there. Odisha Government supplying cooking food in camps; supplying Drinking water through water tanks. Their main focus now supplying electricity to the hospital and water department; between 15-20th May, they will able to do it; it is declared by the electric department. Odisha‟s Government Declared Relief packages for: For fully damaged house Rupees 95,100.00; for medium damaged house Rupees 5,200.00 and for the minor damaged house Rupees 3,200.00. Central Government provided Rupees 1352 crores to Odisha Government. Now Odisha Government per month provided to all affected family Rupees 25000, One Plastic shed and 50 k.g. rice. Many state Governments and IAS union helping Odisha during this time. Many NGO‟s are working actively for the affected peoples. 

Christian Response:

Christ is the center of our lives. The life of Christ is, spreads God‟s Love to the world through stewardship service. Serving nature is the greatest gift to all Christian. It‟s comes from our heart; through God‟s love. We no need anything for it; just it will work through our willing power. It is another freedom of power from God towards mankind. Whatever God has given us; let‟s serve God with that. It is the best way to thanking God. Bible says we are the salt of the world and we are the light of the world. That means we are the mouth, hand, and leg of God in this world. God created all human being and He is very close to His creation. He wants to speak and touch His people. His will; every people will know, feel, and understand His love. In Odisha; it is not possible that we close to Hindu people in Christ's name, but now we have a great opportunity to be close to them with Christ's love. As Christian, we have universality responsibility, to taking care of our God‟s creation. Due to this Fani cyclone God's creation and His people are affecting, let‟s join our hand and restore God‟s creation. God bless you all. 

Conclusion: 

Mainly four Districts Cuttack, Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Puri are severely affected; Cyclone FANI has been caused by huge damages. Huge numbers of trees have uprooted, These trees are blocking road communication. There is extensive damage to dwelling houses, almost all Kutcha and old Pucca houses have been fully or severely damaged. Due to the uprooting of electricity poles and damaging substations and 11 & 33 K.V. lines; the power supply stopped. Summer crops, Betel leaf agriculture, animals and bird farming are mainly affected. As ascertained from the Director, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, there is no major damage to the infrastructure of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Some damages have occurred to semi pucca installations like sheds, AC outer units. Electricity has been snapped and telephone lines are down. Hospital is working through DG sets. There is no report of any injury to the patient, attendant, doctor, or staff. Restoration work for power supply, telecom network is the first priority. Now Odisha needs both manpower and time to deal with this situation. It might be the cause of more casualties. Global warming is the main cause of this climate change; we should educate people regarding it. For now, people are needed Clothes, food, Utensils, Candles, and drinking water; apart from that they need Ajvester sheds/house, medical facilities, and help for cultivation. Odisha Government did a great job by sifting all people to safe places; it is the cause of saving more lives.