INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 A STUDY ON OCKHI CYCLONE AND ITS IMPACT IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT P. GIRIJA Research Scholar of History Bharathidasan University Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Dr.T.ASOKAN Assistant professor Department of History Bharathidasan University Tiruchirappalli-24. Abstract In the view of this article, accentuate of Ockhi cyclone and its impact on the district of Kanyakumari. The disaster is a natural phenomenon; it has to create a wide range of geophysical as well as hydro-meteorological hazards. Its destruction level millions across the coastal area of Tamil Nadu leaving after a trail of heavy loss of lives, property and livelihoods. In many coastal areas of the district, disaster losses tend to outweigh the development gains. The economic and social costs on account of losses caused by cyclone continue to mount year after year as hazards occur with unfailing regularity encompassing every segment of national life. The article has elucidate disaster management activities during the Ockhi. Keywords: Cyclone, Colossal, Disaster, Destruction and Mitigation. Introduction Kanyakumari district is situated on the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula subcontinent where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet. The coastal length of district stretches 71.5 km. The district is known for its multi-hazard exposure, the major natural hazards occurred in Cyclonic storms, Urban and Rural floods. Government of Tamil Nadu which is Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1208 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 committed to reducing the risks due to different disasters has initiated several measures to strengthen preparedness, response, relief and reconstruction measures over the years. Aims and Objectives 1. To district disaster management main aims to cyclone related awareness create among the communities and the general public. 2. To highlight the disaster preparedness, and effective emergency response for saving of lives during the cyclone of Ockhi in the District of Kanyakumari. 3. To emphasize and implement risk reduction activities to provide relief and humanitarian assistance. 4. To make possible faster recovery through comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation methods. 5. To conduct training programmes and capacity building for effective prevention, mitigation and response for the cyclonic situation. II. Material and Method a. Study Site Kanyakumari district is the smallest district in Tamil Nadu. The district lies between 77˚ 15' and 77˚ 36' of the Eastern Longitudes and 8˚03' and 8˚ 35' of the Northern Latitudes. It has bound by Tirunelveli District on the North and the east. The South Eastern boundary is the Gulf of Mannar. On the South and the South West, the boundaries are the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. On the West and North West, it is bound by Kerala. Based on the agro-climatic and topographic conditions, the district can be divided into three regions, namely in the uplands, the middle and the low lands, which are suitable for growing several crops. The district is famous on its vast green stretches of paddy fields, coconut groves, Rubber garden and luxurious forests and the rare-earth of the western seashore and stretched valley mountain of the Western Ghats. The proximity of equator, its topography and other climate factors favour the growth of various crops. Minimum temperature prevailing is 24°C and the maximum temperature is 34°C. The average rainfall of the district is 1456.8 mm per annum. From 2005 onwards the annual rainfall is estimated to be 1006 mm. Unlike other districts in Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari receives a fairly good rainfall from both southwest and northeast monsoons. Southwest monsoon accounts for 32.6%, Northeast monsoon being 42.5%, winter being 3.3% and summer being 21.6% of total rainfall. According to the fishing report, 1,18,387 fisher-folks and 44 Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1209 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 villages of Kanyakumari coast which constitute about 26% of the total fishermen of Tamil Nadu. Fisherfolks do not own land but put their hut on the seashore on unsurveyed land. Most of the villages are having tiled and thatched roofs. In each village a few houses have concrete roofing; Data Description There is no proper source available. The Disaster Management and Indian Meteorological Department annual reports are helpful. This information says about the cyclone strikes on the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea regions. The article is also descriptive and analytical based on the works to be engaged. In addition to empirically support on the field visit data is highly useful of this research. Ockhi cyclone and its impact Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Ockhi was a strong tropical cyclone that devastated parts of Kanyakumari in 2017. It has originated as a low-pressure system later; it was a Depression off the southeast coast of Sri Lanka on 29th November. Due to high atmospheric moisture and warmer oceanic surface temperature between Sri Lanka and Kanyakumari in the mainland of Tamil Nadu, Ockhi intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm on 30th November 2017. Occurrences of Cyclones on the east coast are frequent phenomena while on the west coast the frequency of cyclones is somewhat less as compared to the east coast. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports, for last two hundred years or so does not indicate the occurrence of a strong cyclone at Kanyakumari. The cyclones are classified in various categories depending upon the wind velocity. The Ockhi cyclone is wind speed is 165kmph. Name Wind velocity 1. Low-Pressure Area up to 30 2. Depression 30 - 50 3. Deep Depression 50 - 60 4. Cyclonic Storm (moderate) 60 - 85 5. Severe Cyclonic Storm 85 - 115 Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1210 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 6. Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a core of hurricane winds 115 and above The destructive effects of a cyclone are felt only when it crosses the land. It is usually associated with heavy wind, torrential rainfall and sometimes gives rise to high tidal waves; all these play a very important role in causing havoc in the cyclone-affected area. In Tamil Nadu, cyclones occur during April – May (known as pre-monsoon period) and during October-December (known as a post-monsoon period). Most of the cyclonic occurrences in the post-monsoon period only. The East Coast experiences more cyclonic storms with a high frequency of occurrence. Impact of Ockhi, uprooting coconut trees and causing extensive damage to houses, power lines and other infrastructure on the coastal area of Kanyakumari. Later, Ockhi and catastrophic wind its massive destruction in Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep, South India, and The Maldives. It also caused heavy rainfall along the western coast of India, particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Ockhi was given by Bangladesh which means in ‘Eye'. Cyclone Ockhi, landfall in the Arabian Sea, the coastal town of Kanyakumari have getting torrential rains, subsequent damage and destructions. Further, paddy, coconut, rubber, and plantain trees, was washed out in this cyclone. And also damaged power and communication lines due to the flood break off the tree and uprooted of large numbers of trees. Urban and rural areas were damaged. Vulnerabilities of cyclone disaster are directly affecting the socio-economic factor. Majority of the households in Kanyakumari are marginal fishermen and are under the middle-income group. Their sources of income get from fishing, the majority of the households belong to the low-income group of occupations such as boat making, labourers, and marketing products of tourist interest. Owing to the community’s dependence on fishing, disruption of fishing activities would have adverse multiplier effects on other related occupations such as fish vendors. Table No. 1.1 Details of damage in the Cyclone Ockhi Sl. No Damage of cyclones Rupees in Crores 1. fishing net 1,94,17,800/- 2. Boats and engines 1,36,38,300/- 3. Sunken boat 69,18,000/- 4. 4Other equipment 1, 67,28,250/- Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1211 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 Source: District Disaster Plan in the Kanyakumari District, Disaster Management, Kanyakumari, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2018. However, the detail describes fishing communities exposing the biggest problem during the cyclonic situation missing equipment at sea. Role of Disaster Management in the Ockhi cyclone Tsunami consumed the lives around 800 people in the District and economic loss in crores. The developmental activities that are taking place on the sea coast further worsen the coastal community. Government of Tamil Nadu has considered its vulnerability then, implementing Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (CDRRP) and its Sub-component Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) with the support of the World Bank. The District Disaster Management Authority was created in the year 2014. The Hazard Risk Vulnerability and Capacity (HRVC), Roles and Responsibilities to Stakeholders and Standard Operation Procedure (SoP) were helpful to the Disaster management. Several training programmes were organized to Stakeholders and middle-level officers under the aegis of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Because of the efficient planning and guidelines issued by Commissioner of Revenue Administration (CRA) from time to time helped the District Administration to avoid human loss and a substantial amount of material loss. The low lying areas are pre-identify and categorized as High, Medium and Low. The different interdepartmental team were appointed in vulnerable areas and marked as a zone. The Zonal Team along with community and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO's) is played a vital role in alleviating the sufferings of people at the large level. During the Ockhi cyclonic situation, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Kanyakumari has provided emergency services to the people. Government of Tamil Nadu has deployed state and national disaster response force teams in district of Kanyakumari.