Investigating the Impact of Severe Cyclone Aila and the Role of Disaster Management Department - A Study of Kultali Block of Sundarban

Abstract

Objectives: The present paper evaluates the impact of severe cyclone Aila in Sundarban area of West Bengal as well as to have greater awareness of community about the relevance of post-disaster management so as to face crisis situation. Background: Cyclone Aila hit coastal West Bengal on 25 May, 2009. Over 5.1 million people have been affected in 16 districts of West Bengal. The damage impact assessment carried out by the government of West Bengal and UNDP reported 96 deaths, out of which 25 were caused by a landslide in Darjeeling. The storm was especially devastating for farmers who were preparing to harvest rice and other crops. The cyclone, which was accompanied by heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides, had led to a situation which was precarious in South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts of the Sundarbans area. Approximately 9,20,000 houses have been damaged, the majority of them in Sundarbans. Methodology: The study is based on data related to cyclone has been collected from field survey and the response of the dwellers in 9 Panchayats having 46 Mouzas and 43 inhabited villages in the Kultali Block. Some secondary data have been collected from several publications of Bangiyo Bhugol Mancha of various years, Statistical hand book of different districts ,Bureau of Applied Economics & Statistics, Government of West Bengal, Economic Review, Human Resource Development Report, District Census Book etc. In the course of analysis, median and multiple regressions have been performed by using SPSS-17 software. Results and Analysis: Empirical results indicate that food security is ensured by providing assistance with enhanced livelihood activities. From the study it has been clear that peoples have increased access to improved drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities and adopt more hygiene practices and have increased resiliency and capacity to reduce risk and prepare for future disasters. Policy Implications: Disaster relief and recovery efforts should be conducted within a framework that protects and improves human conditions. Community based disaster management is much needed in coming years with focus on disaster risk reduction.