GEOGRAPHY PROJECT

CYCLONE AILA

Overview Overview

Formed: 23 May 2009Formed: 23 May 2009 Dissipated: 26 May Dissipated: 26 May

20092009 Highest Winds: 120km/h Highest Winds: 120km/h

(1m sustained)(1m sustained) Lowest Pressure: Lowest Pressure:

968hPa 968hPa Fatalities: 325 total, Fatalities: 325 total,

>8000 missing>8000 missing Damage: $552.6 millionDamage: $552.6 million Areas Affected: India, Areas Affected: India,

BangladeshBangladesh

Meteorogical HistoryMeteorogical History On 21 May 2009, the Joint On 21 May 2009, the Joint

Typhoon Warning Center Typhoon Warning Center reported a Tropical reported a Tropical Disturbance had persisted Disturbance had persisted about 950 kilometres about 950 kilometres (590 mi) to the south of (590 mi) to the south of Kolkata, in India and had Kolkata, in India and had developed. developed.

During 22 May 2009, the During 22 May 2009, the disturbance developed disturbance developed further with a Tropical further with a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert Cyclone Formation Alert being issued early the next being issued early the next day by the JTWC as the low day by the JTWC as the low level circulation center had level circulation center had become stronger and more become stronger and more defined.defined.

Later that day, RSMC New Later that day, RSMC New Delhi reported that the Delhi reported that the deep depression had deep depression had intensified into a Cyclonic intensified into a Cyclonic storm and had been storm and had been named as Aila whilst named as Aila whilst located about located about 350 kilometres (220 mi) to 350 kilometres (220 mi) to the southeast of Sagar the southeast of Sagar Island.Island.

Aila became a severe Aila became a severe cyclonic storm at 06UTC on cyclonic storm at 06UTC on May 25 and made landfall May 25 and made landfall at its peak intensity (60kt, at its peak intensity (60kt, 967hPa) between 08 and 967hPa) between 08 and 09UTC.09UTC.

PATH OF CYCLONEPATH OF CYCLONE

PREPARATIONSPREPARATIONS Officials in India evacuated thousands of Officials in India evacuated thousands of

residents from coastal areas ahead of residents from coastal areas ahead of Cyclone Aila. Cyclone Aila.

In addition, several warning alerts were In addition, several warning alerts were issued before the cyclone hit Kolkata; issued before the cyclone hit Kolkata; however, no alarm bells were rung.however, no alarm bells were rung.

In the Bhola District of Bangladesh, an In the Bhola District of Bangladesh, an estimated 500,000 people evacuated to estimated 500,000 people evacuated to higher areas and shelters as Aila neared higher areas and shelters as Aila neared landfall.landfall.

Tourists were advised to stay in their Tourists were advised to stay in their hotels due to the short amount of time to hotels due to the short amount of time to prepare for the storm.prepare for the storm.

Resultant Damage Resultant Damage

Large number of water Large number of water resources were contaminated resources were contaminated by salination by salination Crops were destroyed, parts of Crops were destroyed, parts of the land were waterlogged or the land were waterlogged or effected by salination.effected by salination.Extensive loss of livestock and Extensive loss of livestock and draught animalsdraught animals80% of the forest cover as 80% of the forest cover as damaged badly along with damaged badly along with plantations.plantations.

IMPACT ON INDIAIMPACT ON INDIA In India, at least 149 people In India, at least 149 people

were killed, and hundreds were killed, and hundreds others were left homeless as others were left homeless as torrential rains led to flooding. torrential rains led to flooding.

In northern areas of the state, In northern areas of the state, heavy rains triggered heavy rains triggered numerous landslides in that numerous landslides in that killed 22 people and left 6 killed 22 people and left 6 others missing. At least 50,000 others missing. At least 50,000 hectares of agricultural land hectares of agricultural land was lost during the storm, was lost during the storm, costing an estimated Rs. 125 costing an estimated Rs. 125 crore (US$26.3 million). crore (US$26.3 million).

Throughout the state, an Throughout the state, an estimated 40,000 homes were estimated 40,000 homes were destroyed and 132,000 others destroyed and 132,000 others were damaged. At least were damaged. At least 350,000 people affected by 350,000 people affected by Aila.Aila.

IMPACT ON INDIAIMPACT ON INDIA The storm also The storm also

produced torrential produced torrential rains and high winds in rains and high winds in eastern portions of eastern portions of Orissa state. An Orissa state. An estimated 1,000 acres estimated 1,000 acres of Orissa cropland were of Orissa cropland were lost due to Aila.lost due to Aila.

The remnants of Aila The remnants of Aila produced gusty winds produced gusty winds and heavy rains in the and heavy rains in the eastern Indian state of eastern Indian state of Meghalaya between 25 Meghalaya between 25 and 26 of May.and 26 of May.

Environmental Environmental ImpactImpact The Sunderbans, a region The Sunderbans, a region

which houses 265 of the which houses 265 of the endangered Bengal Tiger, was endangered Bengal Tiger, was inundated with 6.1 m (20 ft) of inundated with 6.1 m (20 ft) of water. water.

Dozens of the tigers are feared Dozens of the tigers are feared to have drowned in Aila's storm to have drowned in Aila's storm surge along with deer and surge along with deer and crocodiles.crocodiles.

As of 27 May 2009 (2009 -05-As of 27 May 2009 (2009 -05-27), one tiger has been found 27), one tiger has been found alive; it was found in a alive; it was found in a waterlogged cowshed following waterlogged cowshed following the cyclone's landfall. the cyclone's landfall.

Environmental Environmental ImpactImpact

Additionally the forest remains under an Additionally the forest remains under an estimated 2.4 m (7.9 ft) of water. On 27 estimated 2.4 m (7.9 ft) of water. On 27 May, conservationists have begun a May, conservationists have begun a search for the tigers throughout the search for the tigers throughout the forest. forest.

The search teams were supplied with The search teams were supplied with fresh drinking water for the tigers as fresh drinking water for the tigers as their natural water source was their natural water source was inundated with salt water from Aila's inundated with salt water from Aila's storm surge.storm surge.

Aftermath of the CycloneAftermath of the Cyclone Army was deployed to the affected Army was deployed to the affected

areas. The next day, the army used areas. The next day, the army used helicopters to provide food to the helicopters to provide food to the affected population. affected population.

About 2,500 troops were deployed About 2,500 troops were deployed to West Bengal on 26 May 2009.to West Bengal on 26 May 2009.

Several naval relief teams were Several naval relief teams were deployed to the Sunderbans region deployed to the Sunderbans region where an estimated 400,000 people where an estimated 400,000 people were marooned by flooding. were marooned by flooding.

Roughly 100 relief camps were Roughly 100 relief camps were established in West Bengal shortly established in West Bengal shortly after the storm passed.after the storm passed.

Aftermath of the CycloneAftermath of the Cyclone On 27 May, 400 troops On 27 May, 400 troops

form the National form the National Disaster Response Force Disaster Response Force were deployed to the were deployed to the state for relief operations. state for relief operations.

The Government of India The Government of India released Indian rupee released Indian rupee 10,000,000 (US 10,000,000 (US $209,775) in relief funds $209,775) in relief funds to the affected areas on to the affected areas on 26 May.26 May.

Two MI-17 helicopters Two MI-17 helicopters were also sent to air-drop were also sent to air-drop food supplies to the worst food supplies to the worst affected areas in West affected areas in West Bengal.Bengal.

THE SUNDERBANSTHE SUNDERBANS In the Sunderbans delta In the Sunderbans delta

zone, gigantic waves zone, gigantic waves caused by the cyclone caused by the cyclone have destroyed around have destroyed around 400 kilometers of 400 kilometers of embankments, flooding embankments, flooding hundreds of the villageshundreds of the villages

Brackish water entering Brackish water entering farmlands has ruined farmlands has ruined crops and wiped out all crops and wiped out all stocks of freshwater fish stocks of freshwater fish and shrimp.and shrimp.

THE SUNDERBANSTHE SUNDERBANS Village after village lay Village after village lay

submerged. According to submerged. According to experts, Sunderbans has never experts, Sunderbans has never been hit by such a destructive been hit by such a destructive storm in the last three decades. storm in the last three decades.

Apart from the human tragedy, Apart from the human tragedy, the cyclone and subsequent the cyclone and subsequent floods has badly affected the floods has badly affected the mangrove forests of mangrove forests of Sunderbans and presumably Sunderbans and presumably caused a sizable damage to its caused a sizable damage to its animal life by sweeping away a animal life by sweeping away a large number of highly large number of highly endangered Bengal tigers, endangered Bengal tigers, crocodiles, wild boars and crocodiles, wild boars and spotted deer. spotted deer.