Odisha, one of the most cyclone-prone states, has suffered economic losses and critical infrastructure damages worth thousands of crores in the past few years because of recurrent and severe cyclones. In such scenarios in coastal regions, power supply is the most significant infrastructure because it directly affects the functioning of other essential systems such as communication, water supply, transportation etc.
Taking understanding of this grave scenario, a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) comprising Surender V. Raj, Udit Bhatia and Manish Kumar studied Odisha's power transmission network damaged during Cyclone Fani in 2019, with a focus on the vulnerability of individual towers to strong winds generated during cyclones.
The researchers developed a comprehensive framework that can help curtail overall losses in the functionality to a substantial extent. The findings of their work have been recently published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR).
The team assessed the damage probabilities for more than 41,000 power transmission towers. Subsequently, a series of simulated realistic cyclone scenarios were created to study the functionality of the transmission system and estimate the population that can get affected due to a range of cyclone scenarios.
The research team observed that the loss in functionality of transmission towers depends considerably on the location of the landfall of the cyclone. The damage is greater if the landfall is close to a region with many substations in the vicinity.
This observation emphasises the need to consider the orientation of the network with respect to the coastline and the realistic properties of the cyclones. The researchers also noted that a simulated cyclone trajectory indicates that it could damage towers even up to 300 km apart from each other.
Damage to power transmission lines at a larger scale leads to a significant and sudden loss of connectivity, consequently increasing the magnitude and duration of disruption in the aftermath of the cyclone, which can sometimes hinder the rescue operations as well.
The framework developed by the team helps in prioritising the towers that should be strengthened to minimise the overall losses in functionality in a cost-effective manner. They used damage-cum-wind speed data to develop a fragility model for towers, which helps assess the functionality of the network and the influence of strategic interventions on the same.
The team found that the most efficient strategy could be to pick a fraction of towers from the highest wind speed zones (according to the Indian standards) that are associated with substations serving a large population.
The study results revealed that a greater number of reinforced towers or a greater level of strengthening in them based on the tailor-made and efficient reinforcement prioritisation strategies in a particular region lead to better functionality of power transmission systems.
According to the NDRF officials, 22 teams have already been deployed on the ground while 28 self-contained teams are on alert within the states to tackle the situation as Asani approaches the north Andhra Pradesh coast.
Out of 22 deployed teams, 12 teams have been deployed at the coastal districts of West Bengal, nine teams in coastal Andhra Pradesh, and one team in Odisha's Balasore district.
The NDRF personnel are conducting awareness drives about do's and don'ts during cyclone and persuading people living on the coast line to shift to safer place/cyclone shelters.
The fishermen have been advised not to venture in the sea for next 48 hours. The IMD is updating the situation to the people through the messages on social media.
The NDRF headquarters is closely monitoring developments and all efforts are being taken to ensure zero casualties and minimum damage to life and property, the officials added.
As per reports, the tin and plastic roofs of the VIP and general gallery in Barabati stadium have flown away during the cyclone. Press gallery, conference room, dressing room, flood lights and other electronic devices have also suffered severe damage.
"Infrastructure worth crores was damaged during the cyclone. There is severe dearth of water and electricity. We have written to the BCCI mentioning all these issues," said, CEO, Odisha Cricket Association, Bidyut Kumar Nayak.
Similarly, the roof and glass of Cuttack's Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium were shattered while lights fitted outside the indoor stadium broke during the cyclone.
"About 28% of the infrastructure including roof, AC Plant, glass, etc have been damaged. Commissioner has already reviewed the situation with his team. All the repairing work will be done soon," said, OIC, Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Ajay Kumar Behera.
The Bank will further provide coverage to the beneficiaries registered under SBI General Insurance.
As per reports, SBI loans applied by 600 pending customers for commercial purpose will be sanctioned within 7 days under various government schemes such as Mudra Yojana and others. Fresh loans applied by the entrepreneurs will also be sanctioned within a short period. Yesterday, SBI reportedly sanctioned business loans for 25 customers.
"We are sanctioning loans for the Fani victims under National Urban Livelihood Mission, Mudra Loan and Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Program. Beneficiaries of SBI General Insurance will receive coverage for the units which have been damaged," informed SBI DGM, Satya Narayan Panigrahi.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall late Tuesday night or early Wednesday, with all authorities in the state braced for the fallout.
"Care is being taken to prevent power outages. Precautions are being taken at chemical units and nuclear power plants in Palghar and Raigad," Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in an update on the cyclone.
While Palghar has the country's oldest atomic installation - the Tarapur Atomic Power Plant complex and other power units, Mumbai has the BARC setup and Raigad houses power, petroleum, chemicals and other major industries, besides the Mumbai Port Trust, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and vital installations of the Navy.
As a precautionary measure, people living in non-pucca houses are being shifted to safer locations and an estimated 2,000 slum-dwellers in low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate.
More than 60 patients were relocated from the Bandra Kurla Complex Covid-19 hospital to the Goregaon NESCO hospital during the day.
Ten National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units have been deployed for rescue operations and six more kept in reserve. A 24x7 control room has been operationalised and the army, navy and air force and the IMD have been instructed to ensure coordination.
Mumbai Police DCP Pranaya Ashok slapped prohibitory orders preventing people at all beaches, gardens, parks and other open spaces from June 3's 1 a.m. till noon of June 4.
The Western Naval Command said it was geared up for emergency response during heavy rain and flooding due to the cyclone Nisarga, along with five flood rescue and three diving teams that would be in place throughout the monsoon.
Ships of the Western Fleet have been embarked with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material to help coastal areas that may be inundated due to heavy rains.
Around 95 personnel of Mumbai Fire Brigade have been deployed in teams across all the six major beaches in the city to carry out any rescue operations.
Earlier on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department issued 'Red Alert' for June 3 for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar. It will continue on June 4 for Palghar, Dhule and Nandurbar. Alerts have also been issued for Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
The IMD Mumbai said the depression over the east-central Arabian Sea moved northwards at 11 kmph speed during early Tuesday and intensified into a deep depression around 5.30 a.m. around 280 km west-southwest of Goa and 490 km south-southwest of Mumbai.
"It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and further into a severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours (June 3)," the IMD bulletin said.
The storm is expected to move towards north and recurve north-northeast later to cross north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar (Raigad) and Daman by Wednesday afternoon.
The IMD has advised DC-I signal at all ports in north Maharashtra and hoist signal No. LC-III at all ports in south Maharashtra and Goa.
The cyclone may strain the security forces already burdened by the Covid-19 pandemic duties in the worst-hit Mumbai Metropolitan Region - most falling in the coronavirus red zone - in nearly three months now.
The IMD Mumbai has also forecast "very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places" in Mumbai and districts of north Konkan, even as drizzles or light showers have continued to soak Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad since Monday.
(IANS)
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