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Cyclone Hudhud
Category 4 North Indian Ocean cyclone in 2014 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud[a] was a strong and deadly tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain and powerful winds in eastern India and snowstorms in Nepal in October 2014. The sixth depression, third deep depression, and second cyclone of the 2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Hudhud originated from a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. It strengthened into a cyclone on October 8, receiving the name Hudhud and then made its first landfall on Long Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, re-emerging into the Bay of Bengal on 9 October. Amid favorable conditions, Hudhud underwent rapid intensification, making landfall on Visakhapatnam on 12 October at peak intensity, with a central pressure of 950 mbar (950 hPa). Over land, Hudhud weakened, becoming a low-pressure area again over Uttar Pradesh on 14 October. It then merged with a trough over the Himalayas.
During Hudhud's landfall, strong winds shattered glass, uprooted trees and poles, and threw debris across roads. 730,000 residents in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were moved to relief camps or shelters following the cyclone, and thousands of homes and crops suffered damage. In Nepal, Hudhud's remnants caused a snowstorm disaster which killed at least 43 and injured hundreds more, with most of the casualties coming from Mount Annapurna.
In the aftermath of Hudhud, special response forces mounted relief efforts across the affected states, with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha requesting a combined total of ₹27,771,200,000 (US$330 million) in aid. A joint military operation named Lehar, led by the Indian Navy, saw various branches of the military deploying and readying response teams and vehicles. Hudhud caused a combined total of 110 deaths across India and Nepal. According to a United Nations report, $11 billion of damage occurred as a result of Hudhud.
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Meteorological history
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Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn 6 October, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began tracking a low-pressure area that formed over the Gulf of Thailand as a result of a cyclonic circulation.[3] On 7 October, the low-pressure area strengthened into a depression over the northern Andaman Sea.[4] It further strengthened into a deep depression later that day as it moved westwards.[5] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also began tracking the system on 8 October, designating it as tropical cyclone 03B.[6] Later that day, it strengthened into Cyclonic Storm Hudhud before making its first landfall on Long Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[7] Hudhud continued intensifying as it emerged into the eastern Bay of Bengal on 9 October[8] and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm later that day with a minimum three-minute sustained central pressure of 990 mbar (29 inHg).[9] Increased curved banding was also noted that day.[10]
On 10 October, Hudhud strengthened into a very severe cyclonic storm with a three-minute sustained central pressure of 984 mbar (29.1 inHg).[11] Early on October 11, Hudhud entered the radar range of Visakhapatnam while continuing to move northwestwards toward the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Curved banding increased and the appearance of an eye was noted.[12] Amid favorable conditions that day, Hudhud underwent rapid intensification, with a clearly visible eye as it approached northern Andhra Pradesh. Operationally, its central pressure at peak intensity was assessed by the IMD as 960 mbar (28 inHg).[13] In the post-cyclone report, it was reanalyzed to 950 mbar (28 inHg).[14] It maintained its intensity as it stalled southeast of Visakhapatnam.[15] Hudhud made its second and final landfall near Visakhapatnam at peak intensity during the afternoon of 12 October.[16]
After moving over land, Hudhud weakened into a severe cyclonic storm[17] and then a cyclonic storm northwest of Visakhapatnam.[18] It weakened into a deep depression the following day over southern Chhattisgarh.[19] It further weakened into a depression that evening over central Chhattisgarh and persisted northward, weakening into a low pressure area on 14 October over eastern Uttar Pradesh.[14] The weakening remnants of Hudhud then merged with an upper-level trough, resulting in a rare interaction over the Himalayas which produced a heavy amount of moisture.[20]
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Preparations
On 9 October, a heavy rainfall warning was issued for the coasts of northern Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.[21] 44 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, eight rescue teams, and Indian Army helicopters were deployed across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an emergency meeting on 11 October to review preparations and relief efforts.[22] In Odisha, 10 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams were deployed and preparations were made to evacuate those living in unsafe houses. District authorities were told to prepare food kitchens and store dry food.[23] Panic buying also occurred in the state on 8 October.[24] Plans to divert 75 trains in the South Central Railway zone were also made, with assistance to stranded passengers. Emergency teams were deployed to the railways, and passengers were told to avoid traveling unless required.[25] In Andhra Pradesh, 111,000 people in coastal districts were evacuated and 370 relief camps were readied.[26] Nine districts were placed under high alert in the state. In coastal districts, two months' worth of food was stocked.[24]
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Impact
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India
Andhra Pradesh
Amid the cyclone's landfall, thousands of homes were damaged, and at least five people were killed in Andhra Pradesh from falling trees and stones.[27] Low-lying coastal areas were inundated by floods after heavy rain, cutting off power lines. People stuck in vehicles on highways were rescued by NDRF and police forces, and debris was strewn across roads. The strong winds also shattered glass throughout the city of Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam Airport was also damaged due to the cyclone, with a runway being flooded. All flights from the airport had been suspended beforehand.[28][29] 500,000 residents were moved to relief camps as a result of Hudhud.[30] 380 mm of rainfall fell in Gantyada in the span of 24 hours on 12-13 October, and storm surge of 1.4 m (4.6 ft) was observed in Visakhapatnam. Hudhud caused 46 deaths and 43 injuries as well as 2,831 livestock deaths in Andhra Pradesh.[14]
Odisha
In rural southern Odisha, 24 transformers were destroyed and 600 poles were uprooted. 48,000 thatched homes suffered damage and 230,000 people were temporarily moved to shelters following the cyclone.[31] 247,557 hectares of crops were affected and 40,484 hectares out of those suffered a loss of greater than 50%. 670 livestock were also killed.[32] A maximum of 260 mm of precipitation fell in R. Udayagiri in a 24-hour span on 12-13 October.[14] Three deaths were reported in Odisha from Hudhud.[33][34]
Elsewhere
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hudhud uprooted several trees, forcing the closing of the Andaman Trunk Road on 8 October.[24] A total of 210 mm of rain fell in Port Blair in a 24-hour span between 7-8 October.[14] Hudhud also caused heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh, with 170 mm in Manendragarh in 24 hours on 13-14 October.[35][14] In Uttar Pradesh, rainfall killed 18 and caused damage to homes and crops.[36]
Nepal
On 14 October, the remnants of Hudhud caused severe avalanches and blizzards following a merger with an upper-level trough, killing four people on Mount Annapurna, eight in Mustang district, and eight in Manang district. 14 injured climbers were airlifted to hospitals on 15 October. At least 43 were killed due to the snowstorms, with 21 of the fatalities coming from Mount Annapurna.[37][20] By 18 October, 384 trekkers had been rescued from Mount Annapurna.[38] The mountain saw 1.8 m (5.9 ft) in the span of 12 hours. On 19 October, the search for survivors ended, with close to 400 having been rescued. Many survivors were frostbitten following their rescue, requiring amputation of limbs.[39]
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Aftermath
In Visakhapatnam, 12 NDRF teams worked to clean up fallen trees and debris on roads and 5,000 workers from power companies worked to restore electricity in the city on 14 October.[40] Andhra Pradesh's chief minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said that 70% of communications were down and urged residents to remain in their homes.[27] 24 NDRF and 155 medical teams were sent to the affected areas to assist with relief efforts. The Indian Navy led a military operation named Lehar to help citizens affected by Hudhud and placed 20 rescue teams in Visakhapatnam, while the Indian Army sent 25 rescue teams. The Indian Coast Guard sent 17 ships, and the Indian Air Force readied seven aircraft.[30][41] 300 members of the ODRAF, equipped with night glasses and other supplies, worked on clearing uprooted large trees and poles from roads.[42] Naidu sought ₹20,000,000,000 (US$240 million) from the central government, while the government of Odisha sought ₹7,771,200,000 (US$92 million) and also requested a team to assess damages in the state.[43][32] According to a United Nations report in 2015, Hudhud caused $11 billion in damages.[1]
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