FANI STRONGEST CYCLONE SINCE 1999

India has witnessed at least 20 severe cyclonic storms in past two decades but the ongoing “extremely severe” cyclone “Fani”, which hit the eastern coast along Odisha with a wind speed of up to 200 km/h yesterday, has been found to be the strongest to hit the country since 1999.

Private forecaster Skymet said the Super Cyclone of 1999 had struck the eastern coast with a wind speed of 225-250 km/h, wreaking havoc in Odisha, destroying whatever came in its path.

“After the Super Cyclone of 1999, Fani has been found to be the strongest cyclone to hit India as the wind speed crossed the 200 km/h-mark,” Mahesh Palawat, Director at Skymet, told IANS.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) chief K.J. Ramesh said that ‘Fani’ was also the strongest cyclonic storm in the month of April since 1901. “Also, Fani has been found to have the longest survival cycle. It has lasted too long,” Ramesh told IANS.

There is a glaring difference between the Super Cyclone of 1999 and the current one, as over 10,000 people were killed in the former while casualties have been minimal in the latter, thanks to the technological advancements and the improved disaster management system put in place this time. “Loss of life should be minimum this time due to the advancement of information system and effective response actions such as evacuation measures and preventive remedies,” Ramesh said.

In 2014, over 80 people were killed by Cyclone “Hudhud” which had a wind speed of 200-205 km/h. It was the strongest cyclonic storm since the Super Cyclone of 1999 till Cyclone Fani.