Introduction:

The word “Phailin” is now famous and even a school child can describe it. When, people face situation upfront, which imprints into mind and it stays there forever. It is true that there is now no fear of Phailin. It has been weakened and now there is no trace of it. Mighty, destructive, unbelievable Phailin have converted some parts of coastal Orissa to pre-historical times.

For the first time in October fourth, this cyclone was detected by weather experts on the coasts of Thailand. At that time, it was revolving as a tiny depression there. During October sixth, it turned westwards and nearer to the Malay islands, and touched west side of the Pacific Ocean. Surprisingly, it disappeared inside the Pacific Ocean. On the very next day, it entered into the Bay of Bengal nearer to Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The reason for Phailin:

During that time, it was intense summer time at the coastal regions of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Phailin moves west to north-western directions because of favorable wind conditions (heat waves). Phailin is a severe tropical cyclonic storms and it is almost of the same intensity of cyclone Katrina. On October ninth, this storm becomes severe and turned into “deep depression”. Slowly, it crossed the Andaman Islands and entered into the Bay of Bengal. Here, it consolidated itself due to the advent of so many heat waves from the land.

The word “Phailin” comes from Thailand. It means a precious metal of blue diamond. Slowly, Phailin intensified. Its center of gravity is similar to the eye ball. On October tenth it is classified as hurricane level one. It is equivalent to wind speed of 119 to 153 kilometers per hour. Indian meteorological department named it as hi-speed cyclone. On the next day, its density increased to 260 kilometers per hour. It is named as a hurricane leveled five.

Serious cyclone:

Finally, on October 11th it was known that Phailin was becoming serious cyclone and it would be crossing the coast of eastern India shortly with astonishing speed and rain. Luckily, on the morning of 12th October, the eye ball center of Phailin, weakened, and on the same night from eight to nine pm it crossed the coast of Orissa. It first touched the coast of Gopalpur on Sea of Orissa. Within half an hour, its speed increased to 200 kilometer per hour. Once reached a peak speed, it hunted nearest Berhampur town of Orissa. Slowly, it moved into north-west wards direction. On 12 midnight, it touched Puri town. There, it peaked speed to 229 kilometers per hour. It created havoc on its pathway and brought sea level one kilometer beyond coast-line.

Slowly, it weakened on October 14th and reached neighboring state Jharkhand, and there it was converted into "depression". Due to the advent of Phailin, many areas of Orissa as well as Andhra Pradesh were destroyed. It even ran havoc after reaching Jharakhanda, with heavy rain and floods. After effects of Phailin were far reaching as many areas had to deal with, severe floods and destruction due to wind and continuous pouring of rains.

After effects:

Awaited to severe rain at Jharakhanda, the rivers which were flowing from there to North Orissa were flooded with heavy waters. North Orissa had to bear the brunt of sudden flash floods which affected many innocent lives. Payable to the effect of Phailin, sea waves rose to ten feet and trespassed into land territory. People had to bear high tides from the sea side as well as flash floods from the land side. As a result of this one freight transport ship drowned into the Bay of Bengal. Entire state of Orissa was down with power failure and breaking down of infrastructure. It was a festive time and people could not enjoy due to severe cyclone.

Bullet points:

1. The recent Phailin affected Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
2. Phailin is a tropical depression originated on the fourth of October, 2013 within the Thailand Gulf.
3. Cyclonic storm made its entry into the Andaman Sea on Seventh October and as its intensity grew, the name Phailin was attached to it on Ninth October.
4. From A & N Island, it made inroads into the Bay of Bengal.
   Its severity increased as it entered into Gopalpur on Sea of Odisha on the 12th October and then to Puri at about 12.30 am on 13th October.
5. The Indian Meteorological Department named it Phailin after it moved to the Bay of Bengal.
6. A&N Islands received rainfall of 734mm and 434mm at Maya-binder and Long island respectively.
7. Andhra Pradesh: Srikakullum district saw heavy rainfall and gale storm uprooting a tree and killing one.
8. Odisha: High alert issued in Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayubhanj, Dhenkanal, Jaipur, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Khurda. State government employee’s holidays were cancelled.
9. The special relief commissioner of Odisha is P.K. Mahapatra.
10. Half of Baripada town were submerged in flood water.
11. 27 killed in cyclone and four in flash floods in Odisha.
12. Ganjam district of Odisha is the worst affected with 12 days of no power and houses of five lac people were destroyed.

Natural disasters:

Examples of geographic and natural effects are floods, cyclones, heavy rain, land slides and earthquakes. Humans forget their own doings of all these natural calamities. They find excuses in the form of natural calamities, God sent disasters. Abilities to strike back when it does matter,  garnering of capacity to sustain such forces will be creating a safe environment.  Storm will take its own course without inflicting any loss of life. Proper disaster management as well as evacuation of population living in unsafe homes to a safer and stronger environment will create a positive safe passages for natural calamities.

Proper pre-planning and preparation of aid can accelerate distribution management after natural catastrophes. Absence of proper evacuation and safety measures can be supplemented with speedier distribution management and restoration of normalcy within the shortest period of time. Today's planned research let us reveal information about prior advancement of imminent natural disasters. All these are preventive steps to safeguard vital human lives from natural disasters. Why stop development of spontaneous regeneration processes by making human settlement in the unsecured area? Humans are cutting trees, destroying mountains and changing the courses of rivers along riverside are disturbing ecological equilibrium of the environment.

Proper security for development is necessary:

Within all these excellent technical knowledge base, why not humans are utilizing those services for betterment of human society? Prepare now, if advance safeguarding arrangements are not properly implemented. Catastrophe comes within each ecological calamity. Every natural disaster creates new and innovative playing fields for the ongoing trend of progress. Implementation of these measures can fetch prudent results. Fitting security for Development Is necessary. If not, all development and creative genius would be disappearing within a blink of seconds. Long term planning of proper implementation of integrated development is what the doctor ordered. Build buildings which can withstand forces of natural disasters. It is always advisable to make scopes for implementation of theses coherent measures while implementation of development agendas.

Strengthen law to open up avenues for a stronger implementation of these decisive measures. Odisha faced the brunt of a series of serious natural calamities during British rule. During those times, people preferred jungles over landscapes. People felt safe as floods, cyclone and other forms of raw calamitous situations were neutral in these deeply dense forests. No scientific and technical expertise was there for 200 years before. Still people had been resorted to make nonviolent environmental place to live. It is unprocessed, for people to be more intelligent for development of knowledge and technical expertise, but sadly more and more people are ignoring basic security safety measures while construction of buildings and other development activities.

The famous haunted house of Puri:

People are constructing a fort like building illegally through illegal approval. Those illegal constructions run privately owned colleges or become center of all illegal activities. At Puri, the famous haunted building is now covered with illegal constructions all around it. This place is nearer to marine drive. It is one of the most relevant place of tourists interest. This place is situated in vast stretches of land with plenty of specialized trees, which can withstand forces of severe cyclones as well as tsunami. Haunted house of Puri is over 150 years old. Mr. Ravenshaw, the then governor of Orissa (Odisha) aimed to build a different governor's house near marine drive of Puri sea beach. Mr. Ravenshaw has always been loved by people of Odisha unpaid to his support. He was an eminent Sanskrit scholar an avid learner of Odia language. Owing to his efforts a separate state had on the basis of Odia speaking people constituted (in 1936). He made world famous Ravenshaw College. It is now a deemed university. Netaji Subhas chandra Bose received his education there.

Mr. Ravenshaw is still being revered by people of Odisha lovingly owing to his passionate administration towards this state. Recently, one opinion poll was done to change the name of the oldest college of Odisha (Ravenshaw College) to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose College.  People rejected this idea overwhelmingly. This is not about disrespectful towards "Netaji". It is all about showing the greatest respect to Mr.Ravenshaw for his astonishing love towards this state. He constructed governor's house at Puri and made infinite stretching of afforestation to stop invading invasions of sea water into Puri town. This idea of his came to his mind 150 years ago. Three storied vast building stood over mounds of storied height.

Open invitation to cyclone:

Sadly, few years after while renovation some parts of the building fell upon 10 laborers. From that day, the concern building became haunted one. Which is still standing tall even after 140 years. Now, plenty of illegitimate constructions all around and mass scale deforestation making an open invitation for cyclones to hit Puri town.

It is respectable to have progressed all around at the same time one should equally conscious of creating an environment to stop all these natural calamities. Sycophants should be removed from the decision making process. Proficient knowledge should be imbibed in making constructive enlistment of security of individuals. After receiving a warning about cyclones, branches of bigger trees should be cut down as well as making support for electrical towers in order to reduce the extent of damage due to heavy winds.

Viaduct:

Electrical towers should be stronger as well as supported with sturdy base. In this way, the extent of damage will be reduced further, like cell towers, which are ergonomically brilliant as well as very well supported. Why not make roads much above ground level to save people from flood water. With these viaduct people can stay above water and viaduct can prove to be waterproof for flood victims.

Due to corruption and red tape, under prepared roads are built which broke earlier than mud house. Scheduled to floods, marooned villages are made and their relief distribution continues. This leaves space for corruption and collision amongst diverse organs of the state. Cost of relief is much higher than building viaducts. Viaduct costs lesser and it will give proper space for people during the storm. It is cheaper and durable. Corrupted administrators believe relief as their dearness allowance. It is their ideal bread and butter. Some administrator believes people favour relief. If they are not given, they might vote otherwise.

People want money and administration wants votes:

This goes to show both public and administration is responsible for lackluster performance of the administration in preparing itself on and after natural disasters. It all comes down to the basic tenets of democracy. People want money and administration want the vote. No one ever wants to build a solid infrastructure which will act as a barrier to imminent and probable catastrophes. The change of mind set is the need of the hour. Phailin superstardom at Gopalpur is instances of callousness of the administration in dealing with emergency preparation. All these are man-made. In the lure of money and rich and affluent are ruining native eco-balances. This is surely not acceptable.

Undergrounds electric wiring in dense localities is the need of the hour. In the last ten years, ten cyclones hit in Gopalpur and Puri locality. Administration should underground electric connectivity in these areas to do away with extended power failures after each storms. Weak infrastructure such as bridges, older houses should be removed prior to the storm. Branches of larger trees in localities should be chopped up in order to save trees from falling into homes. Stern action against those who are deliberately damaging the environment and as a result of these natural disasters is getting immense. If this is delayed, nature will punish us one day. During that time, we would never have time to think and react.

The case study of 19 canals:

Environmentalists would look at these incidents as a reaction to global warming. Lawyers would call this as an act of God. Religious priests would call it as the advent of "tandab level" (destruction). The truth is mortal is the crux of all problems.  Stampeding at holy places is due to failures of the administration. Humans should ponder upon their acts of omission and commission. Ten years back, in the lure of real estate, influential person cut down trees across marine drive across Puri sea beaches. As a consequence, the super cyclone of 1999 at Puri, ripped havoc all across the district.

The age old natural reef damaged as a result of massive deforestation all across marine drive. Illegal constructions of cement structures are all over there. Buildings are constructed by removing trees and changing the courses of rivers. One live example of this is the hospital area of Puri. This area is known as "Athar nala" (19 canals). Ten years back government shutdown 19 canals. Now, the rain as well as drainage water does not have to exit routes. Mild rain is making artificial floods inside Puri. Awaited to modernization, real estate agents are getting ridiculous benefits by colliding the administration in order to collect illegal lands. They grab 1200 years old 19 canals, the sophisticated biological water drainage system for the lure of land and money.

All these natural disasters are man-made:

The lure of money is erasing basic mindsets of humans. It is stopping them to consider beyond which can otherwise be saved if precautionary measures are taken beforehand. After over 65 years of independence, administration failed to stop chit funds and real estate agents doing illegal and illegitimate funding. All these amounts to massive illegal and illegitimate work which directly affecting environments.

Overcrowded houses constructed with forced occupation are prevailing in society. Authorities are unable to stop these as they are vote banks. They encroach upon public roads and stop drainage system from running. Even a modest ten centimetres of rain can flood the entire area. Think about a terrific cyclone situation and the impenetrable rain waters are unable to drain out owing to out-of-order drainage system. All these ecological disasters are man-made and human are solely liable.

Respect nature:

Concentration of water weaken root of trees underneath then easily uprooted at the face of the terrific cyclone such as Phailin. We should respect nature. Naturally made environment should never ever be altered. It is the duty of government of the day, to preserve and protect the environment. There are stringent laws to look after all these developments. The mindsets of administration need to evolve from populist measures. It is high time; some unpopular steps government should take in order to save constant erosion of the environment. A clear and clean environment strengthens nature.

The impulsive rush of flood water into the shrine of saintly lord in Uttarakhanda can be averted. For the past so many years, unremitting erosion of trees and construction of dams was done completely neglecting ecological balance leads to dangerous implications towards nature. By changing the courses of rivers through cutting of mountains leads to platonic changes which ultimately give rise to flash floods and earthquakes. It is high time. People respect the natural surroundings and should not meddle with internal affairs of nature.

Floating population and drinking water:

The force of nature is wild and atrocious. One should always be careful while dealing with it. Here, is one more example. Puri is a famous tourist hub. People from north, east, Western India and from around the world reach here. Puri is a small place and is surrounded by sea on three sides. Proper expansion of this town is not feasible. Owing to large scale floating population, there is huge demand for drinking water. Historically, sweet ground water level of Puri is very few. Most of the waters are hard waters. The nearest under ground level water is known as hard water. It is not suitable for drinking. The soft water level is lying in restricted areas known as "Talabannia" at the outskirts of Puri. Now, it is being over took by land Mafias. They are constructing modern cement structures and stopping sweet soft waters. Honorable court ordered the state government to remove those unauthorised buildings. Even, two years after the judgement, it is still in deaf ears of administrative authorities.

If these erosion continues unabated, within ten years Puri will become another Thar desert of the East. Due to huge number of floating population, numerous tourists reach here. Temporary shops are at the grand road.  They are blocking the road and making it congested. Honorable court banned the use of polythene in a public place. Shopkeepers are openly using polythenes. Residual polythene are blocking big drains. Drain water could not distil out and deposited on the roads, making life of commuters difficult.

Artificial flood:

With only ten centimetres of rain, the entire area is flooded with three feet of water. During Phailin, heavy to very heavy rain coupled with fierce winds blows away polythene residues and the thorough drainage system failed to function. Water remains there and makes an artificial pond in and around it. All these are adding miseries to worries. Temporary shop owners have an association which is supported by an influential member of ruling party. All the members are paying a certain sum to this leader for their protection. In this approach, law enforcing authorities could not initiate action against them.

Openly, laws are broken yet administration is keeping a blind eye to it as well as to judgement of honorable court of justice. In the morning time, many bicyclists with cut woods would be cycling to famous saw mill of the town. It is owned by an influential personality who has organizational linkages. Mass scale of wood cutting is being done everywhere and it is affecting the weather. Climate change and untimely precipitation are huge worry for citizens.

How these storms are created within sea:

After seeing two severe cyclonic storms, the super cyclone of 1999 and the Phailin of 2013, the question arises how these storms are made inside sea. How all these brutal and dangerous storms are originated within the heart of the sea? Why minor "depression" converts itself into a severe cyclonic storm? How these storms moves on the inside to see? How the directions of these storms are controlled? In the summer season, owing to heat conditions, diverse waters from the surface of the sea become gas. After summer, these gases which revolve around sea water, concentrate itself in impenetrable clouds.

Towering clouds, stay on the side of the sea and remain static. These clouds are actually, dangerous. During more heat, these clouds go upwards and generate a void. In order to fill the space, from different sides, heat waves reached there. The earth is moving in the axis and that distorts the movement of heat waves and it becomes whirlwinds.

How a miniature whirlwind turns into severe cyclone?

Now the question is how this trifling whirlwind which is the isolated sea area turns itself to a severe cyclonic storm. Water has some inherent character which is turning whirlwind to severe cyclonic storm. Water is the sole substance of nature which can turn into three distinct stages of substance with a slight difference of heat in the atmosphere. During all these conversions, humongous amount of heat exchange occurs within water conversion processes. In science, it is known as latent heat. When water converses from the state of gas to state of liquid the amount of latent heat generated within this process is unimaginable.

The latent heat generated due to this process is greater than latent heat of ammonia, carbon tetrachloride. The force generated from this latent heat makes super cyclone, depression and trap line (a series of depressions). Inside the heart of the sea, whirlwinds forms, then it spheres around the area and goes towards the top of the atmosphere. Water in the gaseous form converts itself to liquid form of the latent heat touching it, and mammoth series of clouds forms all around that area. During this transformation process of water from gaseous to liquid state colossal amount of heat (latent heat) generated. This latent heat in a cyclic manner steams much water to gaseous state and slowly the entire area is filled with whirling winds. Meteorologists call this latent heat as heat waves. These heat waves make the force and thus it cooks for the formation of the super cyclone.

Why cyclone moves:

Then, all these gaseous substances become cool and turn into a liquefied state. It is a cyclic process and thus more and more liquid water turns into water gases. In these states, cyclone forms and it stays for many more hours within the sea and generates super speed within its epicenter and most of the time it can reach up to 300 kilometers per hour. The epicenter of cyclone is intense heat tidal wave, which is not static, so the cyclone also moves with it. It is generally accepted principle that land areas generate more heat than the water area, so it slowly moves towards land areas in order to gain more speed.

The cyclone which stays at  the deep inside the sea as the tiny recycle process of water generation, slowly moves towards land area with greater might and force, and most of the time, it is not known to masses, as there are instances of large scale such tiny whirl wind bubbles inside water chest. The storm comes with greater force towards land areas, but the heat waves are not there inland areas, and for this within a few hours the storm becomes exhausted on reaching land. Within those specified decreasing of storm, it has been pounder havoc in or around inland areas.

Relief package announced by state government:

The government of Odisha announced a comprehensive package covering all essential aspects of life on 21st October 2013. The areas where crop loss exceeds 50%, the farmers have been sanctioned per hectare assistance of 4500 rupees for rain fed areas, 9000 rupees for irrigated areas and 12000 rupees for cash crops. No farmers will get less than 2000 rupees as assistance. Incidentally, the government puts the estimated crop loss of 50% or more in 6.51 lac hectares.

Besides, the affected farmers will be given crop loan at 5% rate of interest which will come down to 2% with regular payments. Non-payment of earlier loans by farmers will not be treated as defaulters. Short term kharif loans taken earlier and remaining unpaid will be converted into term loans repayable in 36 monthly installments. Steps will be taken for crop insurance. Land revenue and water tax will not be collected from farmers whose loss of crops is more than 50%. All SHGs (Self helps groups) entailing loss in cultivation will be given 5000 rupees each.

In addition, children studying in government high schools will not have to pay tuition fees and examination fees up to matriculation level. All the children in such schools will be given two pairs of school uniforms and school books as per the curriculums. Repair to school and college buildings will be undertaken in war-footing. Altogether, 11 lac children will get this benefit.

Booty looted:

The recent news of corporate looting booty meant for the victims has stunned one and all. With such allegations being proved, chief minister has ordered the transfer of the CMC Commissioner and suspension of deputy commissioner. The vigilance department has been ordered to probe the matter. Cuttack BJD unit chief has been suspended from the party as a postscript to the incident. It is also reported than many corporate have returned the relief materials and paid back the cash in fear of being suspended and charged. Opening of four free kitchens to supply cooked food to victims for three days was reported not to have taken place in a single day even.

Aftermath of Phailin:

There is no end to the woes of Phailin affected people of Odisha who are still affected by the past phailin-fury of encountering heavy rain caused by moisture absorbed "depression" and the loss of a house and property in the phailin-effect. They are now exposed to the open sky after ten days of passing Phailin waiting for more relief to come. Of course most of them have returned to their missing house-hold sites or dilapidated houses, the miseries awaited them in the form of darkness for want of electricity, burning oil or kerosene, the danger of snake-bites in the open homes and want of food and fodder for men and animals.

• Written by mohan manohar.
• In category Nature.
• 10 years ago.

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