From 1999 Super Cyclone To Fani

The relationship between Odisha and cyclones came to be well-known after the disastrous 1999 Super Cyclone where the wind speed crossed the capacity of the anemometer, killing about 10,000 people.

Although the lesson of the 1999 Super Cyclone made the government and people more careful and prepared, the cyclone cycle remained intact, with back-to-back powerful cyclones hitting the land of Odisha each year.

In this story, let’s have a look at the disastrous cyclones that battered Odisha in the last 25 years!

1999 Super Cyclone: Entering the mainland on October 29, 1999, between Odisha’s Puri and Kendrapara, it’s known as one of the deadliest cyclones of the century with a wind speed of 260 km/h that wreaked havoc in the state for about 36 hours, killing more than 10,000 people.

Phailin: Hitting Odisha near Gopalpur in Ganjam district in 2013, the cyclone "Phailin" brought winds at a speed of 220 kmph and left millions of people affected, especially in Ganjam, Puri, and Khordha districts. The aftermath of the cyclone resulted in flash floods impacting lives even more.

Hudhud: With a maximum wind speed of 206 kmph and heavy rainfall, the fierce tropical cyclone Hudhud made landfall on the east coast of Vishakhapatnam on October 12, 2014. The major devastation path followed North Andhra Pradesh and many adjacent parts of Odisha.

Titli: In 2018, October, the cyclonic storm Titli made landfall near the southwest coast of Gopalpur near Palasa in Andhra Pradesh. Odisha’s 8 districts were affected by the storm with heavy rainfall and flooding and landslide in the aftermath.

Fani: The year 2019 saw the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani wreaking havoc in Odisha with wind speeds reaching 175 kmph. It entered Odisha at Puri on May 3 striking a blow to forest and environment and killing many people.

Bulbul: A very severe cyclonic storm that made landfall in West Bengal in November 2019, caused extensive damage to agriculture in Odisha.

Amphan: Amphan, the super cyclonic storm of 2020 made its landfall in West Bengal in May. Considered as one of the strongest cyclones after the 1999 Super Cyclone it affected about 44.45 lakh people.

Yaas: Making landfall in Odisha at Dhamra and south of Haldia in West Bengal on May 26, 2021, cyclone Yaas affected around 60 lakh people.

Gulab: Entering the mainland on September 26, 2021, the tropical cyclone Gulab crossed between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, leaving a trail of devastation in the coastal areas of south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh.

Jawad: The cyclone Jawad spared Odisha as it weakened before hitting the coast in December 2021. However, heavy rainfall lashed the coastal districts with the remnants of the cyclones moving towards Puri before approaching Paradip in a re-curve.

Now Odisha is bracing up for the cyclone Dana which is expected to make landfall on October 24.