Research Journal of Earth Sciences 2 (1): 14-16, 2010 ISSN 1995-9044 © IDOSI Publications, 2010 Impact of Laila Cyclone and Prevention at a Momentary Look-South East Coast of India 1P. Satheeshkumar, 1Anisa B. Khan and 2D. Senthilkumar 1Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605 014, India 2Department of Zoology, Kandhaswamy Kandar Arts and Science College, Paramathy-Velur, Tamilnadu, 638 181, India Abstract: Cyclones have the best expectedness among all the disaster phenomena. It is generally accepted that, all over the world, property damage from tropical cyclones (TC) has increased over the years. India's monsoon rains are on track to hit the country's southern coast on summer season, and cyclone Laila hits southeast coast India in the Bay of Bengal 18th May 2010. Key words: Cyclone % laila % India INTRODUCTION brunt of cyclone Laila received an average of about two inches of rainfall per hour, according to data collected by While TC can produce extremely powerful winds and a NASA satellite. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring torrential rain, they are also able to produce high waves Mission (TRMM) satellite which flew over the cyclone and damaging storm surge as well as spawning tornadoes. showed that the heaviest rainfall was received just They develop over large bodies of warm water, and lose south-east of the centre of circulation and along the their strength if they move over land. About 80 tropical coast. It’s not only measures rainfall intensity from space cyclones (with wind speeds equal to or greater than 35 but can also give scientists an idea about the height of a knots) form in the world’s waters every year [1]. Of these thunderstorm that is generating the rainfall within the about 6.5% develop in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea tropical cyclone.Cyclonic storm ‘Laila' crossed the [2]. The TC Laila forming in the Bay of Bengal hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on May 20th Thursday evening at coast of India (particularly the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bapatla, wreaking havoc over large tracts of the coastal Orissa and West Bengal) every year, causing heavy loss area in the State. However, the damage was lesser than of life and property. Laila cyclone crossed Andhra feared. Laila' would whip up 50-60 kmph squally winds Pradhesh in the Month of May (18 to 21May 2010) and hit along and off the Orissa coast from Thursday night and the coast of Andhra Pradhesh with wind speed of 135 along and off West Bengal coast. Fishermen in the two knots (about 260 kmph) and heavy rains causing severe States were advised to be cautious while putting out to floods. On May 19thLiala situated 300 km away from sea. According to the satellite data, Laila was moving Machilipatnam and 150 km from Chennai, Tamilnadu. north-north-westward at 10 knots, or 12 miles per hour. The impacts of storm surge are coastal flooding, Preliminary assessments suggest that 1,500 villages - beach erosion, and the removal of beach materials among home to more than a million people - have in some way others. The cyclone, with sustained winds of 111 km been affected, mainly in the worst-hit districts of Krishna, (69 miles) per hour, was about 170 km north-east of Prakasam, West and East Godavari, Guntur and Chennai at 11:30 pm local time, the U.S. Navy Joint Vishakapatnam. Coastal soil erosion, flood and agriculture Typhoon Warning Center. Waves were 4.9 meters filed are showed in Figure 1-4 (Internet News Paper (16 feet) high near the storm’s eye.In the Bay of Bengal Source). Poor fishing communities have borne the brunt average hurricane waves are about 10 m [3]. The effect of the disaster, say aid workers, with homes damaged or that a wave can have on a stretch of coastline is destroyed and fishing boats, nets and engines washed determined not only by the strength of the wave itself, but out to sea. "It's difficult to assess the full extent of the also by the slope of the bottom offshore, presence of damage. The Cyclone“Laila” had effected badly on the coral reefs or other breakwaters and the shape of the movement of trains on the north-south track passing coastline.Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh which bore the through Nagpur and numerous trainswas moved behind Corresponding Author: P. Satheeshkumar, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry Central University, Puducherry, India-605104. E-mail: [email protected]. 14 Res. J. Earth Sci., 2 (1): 14-16, 2010 Fig. 1: A woman vendor cries outside the mangled parts of her shop at Suryalanka beach in –Bapatla of Fig. 4: Asea side road damaged by strong waves at Guntur district Ongole in Andhra Pradesh Fig. 2: High tidal waves crashing on the shores of Fig. 5: Farmers in Visakhapatnam showing sprouted Visakhapatnam paddy damaged due to heavy in East Godavari district some parts of the state had received up to 1 foot (32 cm) of rain, Officials said at least 27 people have died. At least 55 fishermen were reported missing, although authorities had ordered fishing vessels to stay in port. State welfare agencies evacuated more than 50,000 people from low-lying villages ahead of the storm. Strong winds uprooted trees, power lines and billboards, blocking roads in many places. Nearly a dozen towns and more than 1,400 villages in six districts were hit by power outages. More than 10000 people died when Andhra Pradesh was struck by its worst cyclone in 1977. Cyclone Laila may have Fig. 3: Flood waters in Ongole Town causing maximum caused inconvenience to Chennai cites for a short span of damage in Prakasam District time, but it has left a long-lasting impact on the city’s water situation. The storage levels in the four reservoirs schedule up to 30 hrs on May 21st. Tidal waves lashed the that feed Chennai has increased by 197 million cubic feet Suryalanka beachfront in full fury keeping the district (mcft) - a quantity enough to provide water to the city for administration on tenterhooks as the cyclonic storm ‘Laila' one week. Various publications including those of the crossed the coast off Bapatla. Andhra Pradesh. The sea U.S. Senate and of insurers give the impression those water advanced to a distance of 20 metres, quite close to tropical cyclones “have become increasingly frequent and the Government Tourism resorts but receded after severe over the last four decades as climatic conditions the storm crossed the coast.Even before the cyclone hit, have changed in the Tropics” [4]. 15 Res. J. Earth Sci., 2 (1): 14-16, 2010 In conclusion contrary to common perceptions, REFERENCES greater vulnerability to tropical cyclone damage in Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu as elsewhere, is due mainly to 1. McBride, J. and L. Report, 1995. WMO/TD-No. 693, economic and demographic, not meteorological factors. No. TCP-38, WMO, Geneva, pp: 65-103. Improvements in warning systems and in disaster 2. Neumann, C.J., 1993. Global Guide to Tropical management remain critical to mitigating the loss of lives Cyclone Forecasting, WMO, Geneva. and, to some extent, the damage. The distinction between 3. Chinthalu, G.R., P. 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