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What's the article about?
- It talks about the success of India in effectively managing the disaster of the recent cycle, Biparjoy, in the Arabian Sea Coast.
Relevance:
- GS3: Disaster and Disaster Management;
- GS1: Important geophysical phenomenon;
- Prelims
Context:
- Recently the server category cycle Biparjoy hit the coastal areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Due to the successful early warning given by the IMD and proactive steps taken both National and State Disaster Management Authorities, loss of life and property was little less.
- In this article, the writer talks about the importance of preparedness in managing disasters.
Analysis:
- Early warning, more time:
- The India Meteorological Department issued a warning almost four days earlier.
- It also successfully predicted the course and timings of the cyclone.
- The four days of lead time and an estimate of its strength gave enough time for district authorities in Gujarat to begin evacuating people — nearly 1,00,000 people in the coastal regions of the States were moved to shelters and close to 30 central and State disaster relief teams were kept ready.
- The railways cancelled several trains and fishermen too received advance warnings of the cyclone’s impact, which kept them away from the sea.
- While a greater lead time should in theory mean more time for preparation, the nature of coastal infrastructure, inefficient communication networks and livelihood patterns, combined with the natural fury that cyclones bring about, mean that there are limits to precautionary measures.
- Newer threats:
- There are newer threats on the horizon. Several studies warn that the Arabian Sea, due to the effects of global warming, is likely to be the fountainhead of many more severe cyclones.
- Frequent evacuation cannot be implemented as a permanent policy intervention and efforts must be made to ensure that coastal-regulation-zone norms that prescribe the kind of structures permissible at specific distances from the shoreline must be strictly implemented.
- The dwellings of rural, coastal inhabitants must be strengthened and natural bulwarks such as mangroves at wetlands must be buttressed for improved resilience.
Way Forward:
- Due to climate change, the frequency of disasters is predicted to increase. Thus, IMD and Disaster Management Authorities need to further faster their efforts.
