Brief geographical background of natural disasters

Cyclone Nilam was one of the most powerful cyclones which hit
Coromandel coast of India in the early second decade of 21st
century, but the effects faced by people in Tamil Nadu was
lesser than the damage caused by Thane cyclone. Cyclone Nilam
followed a unique track with many rapid changes in the
direction of movement. It initially moved westwards, remained
practically stationary for quite some time near Sri Lanka coast
and then moved north-north-westwards till landfall. It moved
west-north-westwards initially over land up to south interior
Karnataka and then moved northwest and northwards. The
remnant low pressure area moved northeastwards across Andhra
Pradesh.
Cyclone Nilam was formed on 28 October 2012 and dissipated
on 1 November 1, 2012 affecting mainly two countries India and
Sri Lanka. Cyclone Nilam has originated from in the Bay of
Bengal from the area of low pressure leading to a weak
depression 550 km northeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Later
on, it was intensified to deep depression and later on to cyclonic
storm by 30 October 30, 2012. Cyclonic storm Nilam hit India’s
south-east coast at Mahabalipuram about 55 km south of
Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Mahabalipuram was lashed by winds
blowing at a speed of 110 km per hour. In Chennai, Puducherry,
Cuddalore and Nagapatinam, the wind speed was as high as 100
km per hour.
In Tamil Nadu due to flash floods (rain (mm) >100 mm per
day), 17 deaths were reported, 298 livestock was lost; , paddy
crops of 4646 hectares was were damaged in Tiruvallur districts;
, 242 km of roads; and 415 huts was were fully damaged; , 3283
huts was were partly damaged, and 5000 electric poles was were
reported damaged. And in Tiruvallur comparatively the damage
caused by the cyclone was not very severeless. In Tiruvallur it
resulted in 3 deaths, and damage of 670 huts, and other minor
agricultural and infrastructural damages.

Role of state
National disaster relief forces were ready in case of emergency.
Fisher peoplemen were warned against venturing into the sea.
Though Nilam is not as severe as cyclone Thane that hit the
same coast last December, killing over 40 people and leaving a
trail of destruction across Tamil Nadu, government agencies in
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh were prepared for
the worst eventuality. Cyclone shelters and control rooms were
opened. Schools, colleges and cargo operations at the port were
shut down.
In Chennai, people have been asked to stay indoors. The city
started experiencing strong winds from 3 pm when the cyclone
was about 160 km off the shore on the 31st of october October .
The State Disaster Response Force, under the additional director
general of police, were kept waiting in a state of preparedness.
About 300 schools and community centres have been kept ready
to receive people, if evacuated.  City shops and other
establishments were shut ahead of the storm. Cyclone shelters
and control rooms were opened. Schools, colleges and cargo
operations at the port were shut

The State Government too asked employees of Government

offices and private establishments to leave for home .the Tamil
Nadu Government had a contingency plan at work during the
day. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa chaired a Cabinet meeting in
the morning to chalk out the plan on the likely impact from the
cyclone. She ordered the supply of essential commodities such
as water and milk, and ensured that there was adequate
inventory of kerosene and diesel, said a State Government press
release. The Government put up shelters and moved people from
low-lying areas into the shelters. It warned people not to venture
into the sea. About 4,000 people have been evacuated to relief
camps from Mahabalipuram.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN TIRUVALLUR DISTRICT:
The District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Tiruvallur
District was functioning round the clock and the Toll Free No.
1077 was fully operationalized. Complaints received on Toll
Free No. were immediately passed on to the concerned
authorities for taking immediate action. As per the circular
instructions issued from the Office of the Commissioner of
Revenue Administration, the rainfall and the damage data such
as human loss, cattle loss and hut damages was were uploaded in
the revenue intra-site.rainfall data, and the necessary
information was sent to PS / CRA through WhatsApp in case of
heavy rainfall / any emergency in the district. The Taluk EOC
was also functioning at each taluk office with sufficient staff. In
case of line departments, coordination meeting was conducted at
divisional, district and taluk levels. The Revenue Divisional
Officers were responsible for the relief operation in their
divisions, and they were designated as Divisional Zonal officers.
To assist the divisional divisional-level officer, each taluk
officer was placed under the supervision of one Deputy
Collector rank officer and he/she was called Additional Zonal
officer. These additional zonal officers operated from the Taluk
Headquarters. During the period of North East Monsoon, the
Revenue Divisional Officers had successfully set up the control
room in their offices to monitor the situation. These control
rooms was were functioning round the clock by rotation of staff.
A register was maintained for recording the messages-received
regarding flood/cyclone. The messages were communicated then
and there to the subordinate officers/concerned departments for
necessary action.
Pre-disaster management in Tiruvallur
During the period of October / November / and December one
Deputy Collector rank officer was made in charge of each
Taluk. The Taluk Tahsildars along with the Zonal Deputy
Tahsildars and Firka Revenue Inspectors were asked to
familiarize themselves with the disaster disaster-prone areas.
The Taluk Tahsildars, Zonal Deputy Tahsildars and Revenue
Inspectors were instructed to inspect the proposed shelter homes
and check if the buildings were not leaky and can be fit to be
used as shelter home.
At the time of disaster, to assist the taluk Tahsildar in carrying
out the anti-disaster operation, each Firka was placed under the
supervision of a special Tahsildar or Panchayat Union
Commissioner. In respect of municipal areas, the municipal
commissioner concerned as the relief officer and with the
assistance of large contingent of man power available with them,
they were able to take immediate steps to handle the disaster.
They were in constant touch with the Collector and should
apprise the Collector of all the steps taken by them and arrange
for the relief measures in the area. The Executive Officers
(Town Panchayat) in the town were also the relief officers; they
are responsible for the relief operation in their areas. The public
health sections under their control were kept alert against any
epidemic and that they should ensure that the drinking water
supply was free from contamination. The coastal district revenue
officials were instructed to utilize the communication system
effectively and extensively during the Northeast Monsoon
period. However, a major drawback was that the people were
not adequately trained. Also, a list of individuals / organizations
that have boats, pump sets, generators, power saw and any other
relief and rescue equipments which can be mobilized
immediately at the time of emergency was to be made out. There
were 35 Kappa's or fishing villages across the coast in the
District. Each Kappa was put under a Village Officer as the
Nodal Officer and such two Kuppams were in turn to be
supervised by a Revenue Inspector. Cyclone shelters both
permanent as well as temporary were arranged and each of them
put under the control of a Village Administrative Officer with
the Taluk Supply Officer monitoring at the Taluk level. A total
of 15 evacuation camps were set up in the district. The officers
were instructed to make suitable arrangements by coordinating
with the Transport depot to secure transport facilities for
transporting the victims from the villages concerned to the
nearest shelter identified. Arrangements for generators and
drinking water facilities were also made at the shelters. The
health department in the district was also instructed to be ready
for any immediate action. Around 1500 people along the coastal
belt were shifted to the evacuation camps in the district. A
settlement allowance of Rs.1000/- was given to the affected
families. Evacuation Shelter homes for the victims in the Coastal
Taluks and Low low-lying areas in the District were identified
and manned by the respective Taluk Officials in 9 coordination
with fire, co-operative, health and police departments.
Suggestions
Accountability is essential for effective governance. There
should be clearly defined roles & responsibilities which address
basically two crucial questions- “who is accountable for what”
and “to whom they are accountable” ”- to carry out mitigation
measures properly. Even when the roles & responsibilities are
clearly defined, they face significant challenges in initiating the
activities for which they are accountable. The major challenge is
the capacity of the government to respond and make resources
available immediately.
Many people found it difficult to return to their houses because
of the sudden holiday declared in the afternoon after seeing the
intensity of the cyclone. This resulted in panic among people as
many roads were blocked due to the felling of trees and also
trains were cancelled in some areas. Prior measures if
undertaken seriously can prevent people from putting
themselves in such helpless, difficult situations during times of
such natural disasters.
IMPACT
In Tamil Nadu due to flash floods (rain (mm) >100 mm per day)
17 deaths were reported, 298 livestock was were lost, paddy
crops of 4646 hectares was were damaged in Tiruvallur
districts., 415 huts were fully damaged. , and 5000 electric poles
were reported damaged.. In Tiruvallur it resulted in 3
deaths, damage of 670 huts, and other minor agricultural and
infrastructural damages.
As predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD),
the storm brought heavy showers and raging winds in its wake.
Mahabalipuram was lashed by winds blowing at a speed of 110
km per hour. In Chennai, Puducherry, Cuddalore and
Nagapatinam, the wind speed was as high as 100 km per hour.
Hundreds of trees were uprooted. Nellore and Chittoor, the
southern districts of Andhra Pradesh, too, experienced strong
winds and heavy rains. Heavy crop loss is was expected.
Mahabalipuram is a tourist spot and most hotels in the area have
been were closed. a A ship, Prathiba Cauvery, has been
grounded at the Besant Nagar beach in Chennai because of the
cyclone cyclone. No loss of life has been reported so far.

TESTIMONIAL
1. KANAKAVALLI
Kanakavalli from Panchanthiruthy village near thiruporur
Thiruporur says that Neelam Nilam cyclone has affected almost
140 families living in that area. People living in that area were
not given any warning signs before prior and started moving to
the nearby schools to seek shelter only when their houses got
flooded with water from the continuous rains. The water level
reached upto their hips, and most of their things including
kitchen utensils, television, and cylinders got washed away. She
also mentions that the government officials didn’t provide them
any help during the disaster or even after the disaster to restore
their homes .

2. VANMATHI
Vanmathi says that all there were no huts remaining after the
cyclone, and people had to rebuild their houses again after the
Neelam Nilam cyclone. She also says that there are still huts
which are in the danger of getting destroyed if any intense
rains strike the Panchanthiruthi village .The conditions are
still the same .There was no current supply in that village
during the times of the disaster. She also added that people
living in that area cant couldn’t watch news even to know
about the disaster or any incidents happening in and around
them because of the lack of electricity in that area even now.
There are few street lights in some areas now . People in that
those areas have registered complaints and given repeated
petitions demanding for current supply even now, but
nothing much has been done.
They also didn’t receive necessary materials like towels or
clothes during the times of the disaster. Government officials
only came to the village after the disaster and told that they will
help them with relief funds to rebuild their shelters, but nothing
was has donehappened.