New Delhi: Cyclone Fengal is likely to make landfall in Tamil Nadu on November 29 and a yellow alert has been issued in Chennai. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that Chennai will receive heavy rainfall due to the possible cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal. The deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal has already moved north-northwest at a speed of 13km/hour over the past 6 hours.
The deadliest cyclone in the Indian history
While Ias experienced several cyclonic storms over the years, none can possibly top the intensity and devastation of the Bhola cyclone which took place in 1970. It was a devastating tropical cyclone which
ravaged East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) and West Bengal in India on November 12, 1970. It is the deadliest tropical cyclone ever and one of the deadliest humanitarian disasters in the world. It killed 300,000 people and the death toll could be as high as 500,000.
On November 8, the cyclone formed over the central Bay of Bengal and gained intensity as it travelled northward. Its peak wind speed was 185 km/h on November 10 and it made landfall on East Pakistan’s coast on the next afternoon. It destroyed offshore islands, wiped out villages and destroyed crops.
The impact of the Bhola cyclone
Both the East Pakistan and the Indian authorities had little preparations to counter the impact of Cyclone Bhola and a large part of the population was reportedly taken by surprise by the storm. While the death toll of the Bhola cyclone is not accurately known, according to estimates, at least 3 lakh people died due to the storm and the toll could be as high as 5 lakh.
The Bhola cyclone remains the deadliest recorded tropical cyclone and in modern history, it is one of the deadliest natural disasters. When it comes to the death toll, a comparison can be made with the Tangshan earthquake in 1976, the Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, but it is difficult to ascertain which one was the deadliest.
Both East Pakistan’s political leaders and the international media criticised the Pakistani government for how it handled the relief operations. The government of West Pakistan was accused of discrimination and it infuriated the people in East Pakistan. It enabled the Awami League to win the election in the province a month later and it would go on to trigger the Bangladesh Liberation War.
While Ias experienced several cyclonic storms over the years, none can possibly top the intensity and devastation of the Bhola cyclone which took place in 1970. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
