1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone

1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone
Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Image of the storm before landfall
Formed November 14, 1977
Dissipated November 20, 1977
Highest winds 3-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph)
1-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
Lowest pressure 919 hPa (mbar); 27.14 inHg
Fatalities 14,204 total
(Estimated up to 50,000)
Damage $498.5 million (1977 USD)
Areas affected Andhra Pradesh
Part of the 1977 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone was a devastating tropical cyclone that hit Andhra Pradesh in November 1977, killing at least 14,204 people.[1]

Meteorological history

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

The storm began as a tropical depression in the northern Indian Ocean on November 14.[2] It strengthened steadily over the next few days, initially moving westward before turning north-northwest on November 16. By November 18, the storm reached its peak intensity, with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of 110 knots (204 km/h; 127 mph), still moving north-northwest towards the Andhra Pradesh coastline.[3] On November 19, the storm made landfall near Chirala, bringing a storm surge of 5 metres (16 ft) or more to the island Diviseema. The storm continued to move inland after landfall, weakening rapidly, before dissipating on November 20.[2]

Impact

The worst affected areas were in the Krishna River delta region. The island of Diviseema, which was hit by a six metre high storm surge, experienced a loss of life running into the thousands. Hundreds of bodies were floating in the waters and bodies bloated beyond recognition were consigned to mass pyres. Landslides ripped off the railway lines in the Waltair-Kirandal route. About 100 people who had left their homes to seek shelter in a church in Bapatla town were killed when the building collapsed. Fields of paddy and cash crops were submerged by the tidal waves. Thirteen sailing vessels, including some foreign ones, went missing in the storm.

About 100 villages were marooned or washed away by the cyclonic storms and the ensuing floods and a total of 10,841 killed or missing, and 34 lakh rendered homeless. According to the Janata party, at least 50,000 people were believed to have been killed by the storm, substantially higher than reported by the government.[4]

Aftermath

The large loss of life prompted the establishment of early warning meteorological stations on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Cyclone shelters and other measures for disaster management were also taken. A memorial, at the point of furthest advance of the tidal wave, near the town of Avanigadda, was built in memory of the people who died in the storm.

The next cyclone (1990) that also occurred in Andhra Pradesh, showed that there was a large improvement in disaster management, effective warnings ahead of time, and better meteorological equipment which dramatically reduced the death rate (compared to the cyclone in 1977).[5]

In the wake of the disaster, officials in India were accused of covering up the scale of damage and loss of life. Members of the Janata party, an opposing political group to the state government in place at the time, claimed that the cover up was to hide criminal negligence which resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities.[4] Following these accusations, five high-ranking government officials resigned from their positions.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The storm in Orissa. Economist, 00130613, 11/6/1999, Vol. 353, Issue 8144
  2. 1 2 Johns, B.; Dube, S. K.; Mohanty, U. C.; Sinha, P. C. (October 1981). "Numerical simulation of the surge generated by the 1977 Andhra cyclone". Quart. J. R. Met. Soc. 107 (454): 919&ndash, 934. doi:10.1002/qj.49710745411. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  3. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricanes/1977/north-indian/6
  4. 1 2 The Associated Press (November 28, 1977). "Coverup alleged in India's cyclone disaster". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  5. ↑ Raghavan, S., and S. Rajesh. "Trends In Tropical Cyclone Impact: A Study In Andhra Pradesh, India." Bulletin Of The American Meteorological Society 84.5 (2003): 635. Science & Technology Collection. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.
  6. ↑ Staff Writer (December 2, 1977). "5 in India Resign Over Cyclone Aid". Los Angeles Times.

Raghavan, S., and S. Rajesh. "Trends In Tropical Cyclone Impact: A Study In Andhra Pradesh, India." Bulletin Of The American Meteorological Society 84.5 (2003): 635. Science & Technology Collection. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

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