2015 Gujarat cyclone

2015 Gujarat cyclone
Deep depression (IMD scale)

Deep Depression ARB 02 over the Arabian Sea shortly before landfall over the coast of Gujarat on 23 June
Formed 22 June 2015
Dissipated 24 June 2015
Highest winds 3-minute sustained: 55 km/h (35 mph)
Lowest pressure 988 hPa (mbar); 29.18 inHg
Fatalities At least 80[1]
Damage $258 million (2015 USD)
(government estimate[2])
Areas affected Gujarat, India
Part of the 2015 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 2015 Gujarat cyclone, officially Deep Depression ARB 02, brought heavy rains to the Indian state of Gujarat in June 2015. Following heavy rains, Gujarat was affected by floods. The flood is also known as the June 2015 Gujarat flood or 2015 Amreli flood. The floods resulted in at least 80 deaths. The wild life of Gir Forest National Park and the adjoining area was also affected. The monsoon in Gujarat typically starts in mid-June every year.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Following a series of monsoonal disturbances, a fresh wave of thunderstorms organized into an area of low pressure on 21 June in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Gujarat.[3] Deep convection persisted to the west of the system while the circulation continued to develop over the next 24 hours,[4] and the IMD started tracking it as a depression, with the identifier ARB 02.[5] ARB 02 continued to develop and by the night of 22 June, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system, while it was 285 nmi (528 km; 328 mi) west-northwest of Mumbai.[6]

Impact

Flood affected areas of Amreli district on 24 June 2015

There were heavy rains on 23 and 24 June 2015 across Gujarat. Saurashtra and south Gujarat received 65.99% and 37.82% respectively of their average monsoon season rainfall in June. Central-East Gujarat received 19.92%, north Gujarat 7.45% and Kutch 7.30% of their average monsoon season rainfall. Overall Gujarat received 33.95% of its average monsoon season rainfall. These large amounts of rain falling in a short period of time resulted in flooding in Saurashtra region.[7][8] Torrential rains battered Gujarat, with peak accumulations of 636 mm (25.0 in) in Bagasara, 511 mm (20.1 in) in Dhari, and 400 mm (16 in) in Variyav. Severe flooding ensued across the region, isolating many villages in the Saurashtra region.[9]

In Saurashtra, Amreli district was badly affected, facing its worst flood in ninety years. Nearly 600 of the 838 villages in the district were flooded. More than 400 villages were inaccessible as road and rail connections were washed away due to flash floods and they had no electricity. Shetrunji river and its tributaries were flooded. A railway bridge near Gavadka collapsed and a railway line was washed away near Borala village near Savarkundla. Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) declared 705 electricity poles damaged.[10] In Rajkot district, more than 1700 houses sustained damage. Jetpur town was flooded as the floodgates of Bhadar dam were opened.[11]

There was severe damage to crops and a large number of cattle died. The flood and heavy rain resulted in more than 70 deaths across Gujarat.[11][12][13][14][15]

The Gir Forest National Park and adjoining area housing Asiatic lions, an endangered species with only 523 living individuals documented in May 2015, was severely affected. The carcasses of 10 lions, 1670 Nilgai, 87 spotted deer, nine black bucks, six wild boars and some porcupines were also recovered.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

A total of 112,217 farmers suffered major or minor damages while there has been erosion in 134,007 hectares of land.[24]

Aftermath

People being rescued by Indian Air Force helicopter

The state government deployed the Indian Air Force (IAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief operation.[25] On 25 June 2015, IAF helicopters delivered more than 200,000 food packets to villages affected by the flood.[10] Around 4,000 people were evacuated from seventeen villages downstream of Bhadar dam. More than 200 people were rescued from various places affected by the floods. The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel declared Rs 400,000 as compensation to the kin of each of the deceased.[11][12]

The Government of Gujarat announced a ₹ 3 billion relief package which included ₹ 1.5 billion from the National Calamity Relief Fund. The compensation for soil erosion was declared to be ₹ 25,000 per hectare for small farmers or ₹ 50,000 for farmers having more than two hectares of land. The maximum compensation was set at ₹ 60,000. For soil restoration, the government provided 5% interest subsidy for ₹ 100,000 for small farmers and ₹ 200,000 for big farmers. For crop damage, the assistance of ₹ 13,600 for minor crop and ₹ 18,000 for major crop up to one hectare land while for horticulture and banana, the assistance of ₹ 18,000 up to one hectare land was announced. For cattle deaths, compensation of ₹ 180,000 for the death of five cows or buffalo was announced. The small traders were assisted with ₹ 10,000 and shopowners with ₹ 35,000. For household damage, ₹ 7,000 were given as an assistance.[2][24]

Another flood affected Gujarat a month after this storm.

References

  1. ↑ "Gujarat death toll touches 80, four lakh ex gratia for kin". Ahmedabad, India: Hinudstan Times. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Flash flood: Govt announces Rs 300-crore relief package". The Indian Express. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook - 21/0600z". USNO. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Special Tropical Weather Outlook - 22/0600z". USNO. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Tropical Weather Outlook - 22/0600z" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert - 22/2100z". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  7. ↑ DeshGujarat (24 June 2015). "Saurashtra completes 66% of average monsoon season’s rain, Gujarat 34%". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  8. ↑ DeshGujarat (24 June 2015). "Quick updates in brief on Gujarat flood". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Flood-like situation in Gujarat due to heavy rains; 34 dead". Ahmedabad, India: News Nation. Press Trust of India. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. 1 2 TNN (26 June 2015). "Gujarat's Amreli battles worst flood in 90 years". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 India (26 June 2015). "Gujarat flooding: 70 dead, thousands cut off as Saurashtra is hit by heavy rains". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  12. 1 2 Sonawane, Vishakha (26 June 2015). "Heavy Rains In India: 70 Dead in Gujarat, Flood Alert In Jammu And Kashmir". International Business Times. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Iyengar, Rishi (26 June 2015). "India: 70 Killed in Gujarat Monsoon Flooding". TIME.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Monsoon rains kill 81 in India". www.livemint.com/. Associated Press. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  15. ↑ Banarji, Arijit (26 June 2015). "Early Monsoon Rains And Floods Kills At Least 81 In Gujarat". Focus News. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "10 Lions, About 90 Spotted Deer Killed in Flash Floods in Gujarat". NDTV.com. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "5 Lions Found Dead in Gujarat After Heavy Rain Leads to Flooding". NDTV. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  18. ↑ Parmar, Vijaysinh (26 June 2015). "Four lions found dead in flood waters in Gujarat". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Heavy rains take a toll of five Asiatic lions in Gujarat". India TV News. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "Gujarat flash floods kill eight lions, other animals : Mail Today, News". India Today. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  21. ↑ Mahesh Langa (28 June 2015). "Gujarat floods kill 7 lions, more than a dozen still missing". Ahmedabad, India: Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  22. ↑ "Rains Kill Four More Lions in Gujarat, Toll Climbs to 9". Ahmedabad, India: The New Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Analysis, Daily News & (11 July 2015). "Gujarat floods take huge toll on lion prey, 1670 nilgai and 80 deers dead". dna. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  24. 1 2 "Rs 300cr relief package for Amreli, other flood-hit areas". The Times of India. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Monsoon rain 24% excess so far, 60 die in Gujarat floods". www.hindustantimes.com/. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
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