Page 266 - New Medley 5 Semester 2

rainfall during a normal monsoon from 14 to 17 June 2013. This caused the melting of Chorabari
Glacier at the height of 3800 metres and overflowing of the Mandakini River which led to heavy
floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome and Rudraprayag district. Warnings made by the India

Meteorological Department predicting heavy rains were not given wide publicity beforehand.
Thousands of people were caught unawares, resulting in huge loss of life and property. Dehra
Dun, the capital of Uttarakhand, experienced the wettest June for over five decades. Unprecedented
destruction in Uttarakhand was attributed by environmentalists to unscientific developmental
activities undertaken in recent decades.

(Cyclone Phailin in Odisha)

On 11 October 2013, a cyclone called Phailin hit Odisha. It is said that around 12 million people were
affected. As part of the preparations, 600 buildings were identified as cyclone shelters and people

were evacuated from areas near the coast including Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Jagatsinghapur
districts in Odisha. The cyclone prompted India’s biggest evacuation in 23 years with more than
5,50,000 people moved up from the coastline in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to safer places.

In Odisha, the government issued a high alert and cancelled the Dussehra holidays of employees of
all 30 districts of the state, asking them to ensure the safety of people. Food and relief materials
were stocked-up at storm shelters across the State. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy

helped in rescue and relief operations.

Cyclone (Hudhud) in Andhra Pradesh

Hudhud hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
on 12 October 2014. Vishakhapatnam, also known as

Vizag, bore the brunt of Hudhud, which hit its coast
with a speed of 185 kmph. An alert was sounded in
nine out of thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Over 7,00,000 people including 5,00,000 in Andhra

Pradesh were evacuated and put up in relief camps.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
mobilised thirty-five teams in Andhra Pradesh and

Odisha. The Navy was appointed as the lead agency among the armed forces to carry out relief
and rescue operations which were code-named ‘Op Lehar’. The Army also established a Disaster
Management Cell at Air Defence College, Gopalpur. With Do you know?

proper alertness and adequate preparation, the administration
In June 2023, Cyclone Biparjoy hit
succeeded in minimising the loss of life.
Gujarat. In May 2024, cyclone Remal
hit Odisha.

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