Lok Sabha Question No. 188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Extreme Weather Events
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 188 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

## 188. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY :

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that India recorded extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rainfall and landslides in the current year;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  extreme  weather  events  that  have  been  recorded  in  the  past  year, State/UT/district-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has data regarding the number of deaths that have been caused, including those of children and women, due to extreme weather events;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT/district-wise including the district of Saran in Bihar;
- (e) whether the Government has carried out any study on the total economic loss that has occurred  due  to  extreme  weather  events  of  the  past  year,  if  so,  the  details  thereof State/UT-wise;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  devised  any  other  policies  to  minimize  the  human  and economic loss due to extreme weather events in India; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(b) Yes Sir. The extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rainfall and landslides recorded during 2021 and 2022 are given in the AnnexureI.
- (c)-(d)  The  details  of  the  state  wise  information  of  loss  of  lives  due  to  various  disastrous weather events which happened in the last decade in the country as a whole is given in the table in Annexure-II.
- (e) IMD has an effective  forecast and dissemination  mechanism through which  necessary warnings and advisories are  issued  for various extreme weather events throughout the country well in advance for preparedness. However, estimation of economic loss is the mandate  under  the  respective  State/UT  Governments.  This  ministry  doesn't  centrally archive such data.
- (f)-(g)  IMD issue forecasts and warnings related to extreme weather events and share the same with  Disaster  Management  Authorities  as  well  as  general  public  through  various platforms for necessary preparedness and to support mitigation measures.

IMD follows a seamless  forecasting  strategy.  The  long-range  forecasts  (for  the  whole season)  issued  are  being  followed  with  extended  range  forecast  issued  on  every Thursday with a validity period of four weeks. To follow up the extended range forecast, IMD issues short to medium range forecast and warnings daily valid up to next five days with  an  outlook  for  subsequent  two  days.  The  short  to  medium  range  forecast  and warning  at  district  and  station  level  are  issued  by  state  level  Meteorological  Centres (MCs)/Regional  Meteorological Centres (RMCs) with a validity of  next five days and are updated twice a day. The short to medium range forecast is followed by very short range  forecast  of  severe  weather  up  to  three  hours  (nowcast)  for  all  the  districts  and 1171 cities and towns. These nowcasts are updated every three hours.

Forecast is issued for 36 meteorological sub-divisions from National Weather Forecasting  Centre,  IMD  HQ  and  is  updated  four  times  a  day.    The  forecasts  and nowcasts are issued at District Level and Station Level by State Level Meteorological Centres and Regional Meteorological Centres.

IMD  is  implementing  Impact  Based  Forecast  (IBF)  which  gives  details  of  what  the weather will do rather than what the weather will be. It contains the details of impacts expected from the severe weather elements and guidelines to general public about do's and  don'ts  while  getting  exposed  to  severe  weather.  These  guidelines  are  finalised  in collaboration  with  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA)  and  is  already implemented successfully for cyclone, heat wave, thunderstorm and heavy rainfall.

While  issuing the warning suitable colour code is used to bring out the  impact of the severe  weather  expected  and  to  signal  the  Disaster  Management  about  the  course  of action  to  be  taken  with  respect  to  impending  disaster  weather  event.    Green  color corresponds to no warning hence  no action  is  needed,  yellow color corresponds to be watchful and get updated information, orange color to be alert and be prepared to take action whereas red color signals to take action.

The forecasts and warnings are disseminated to users including disaster managers by email  on  regular  basis.  In  addition  to  this,  WhatsApp  groups  are  created  including disaster managers and IMD officials and forecast & warnings are disseminated through this facility also. The forecast & Warnings are uploaded in social media & website for reference by all concerned. The nowcasts related to Severe Weathers are disseminated through SMS also to the registered users.

In addition to this, as and when the situation arises, Press Releases are issued by IMD and the same are also disseminated by all the platforms mentioned above.

IMD  has  taken  various  initiatives  in  recent  years  for  improvement  in  dissemination  of weather forecast and warning services based on latest tools and technologies. In 2020, IMD has  launched  seven  of  its  services  (Current  Weather,  Nowcast,  City  Forecast,  Rainfall Information, Tourism  Forecast, Warnings and Cyclone) with ' UMANG '  mobile  App  for use  by  public.  Moreover,  in  2020,  IMD  had  developed  mobile  App  ' MAUSAM '  for weather  forecasting,  ' Meghdoot '  for  Agromet  advisory  dissemination  and  ' Damin i'  for lightning alert.

## Count of Natural Event during 2022

| Natural Events   |   Number of Events |   Number of Events |
|------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|                  |               2021 |               2022 |
| COLD WAVE        |                  5 |                  1 |
| DUST STORM       |                  5 |                  1 |
| GALE             |                  1 |                  8 |
| HEAT WAVE        |                  4 |                 27 |
| LIGHTNING        |                  5 |                566 |
| SNOWFALL         |                393 |                  7 |
| SQUALL           |                  9 |                  1 |
| THUNDERSTORM     |                 45 |                240 |

Heavy rainfall count during monsoon season 2021 and 2022

| YEAR    | 2021                                 | 2021                                       | 2021                               |                                      | 2022                                       | 2022                              |
|---------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| MONTH   | Heavy Rainfall (>64.4 mm&< 115.4mm ) | Very Heavy Rainfall ( >115.5mm &< 204.4mm) | Extremely Heavy Rainfall >204.4m m | Heavy Rainfall (>64.4 mm&< 115.4mm ) | Very Heavy Rainfall ( >115.5mm &< 204.4mm) | Extremely Heavy Rainfall >204.4mm |
| JUN     | 1295                                 | 277                                        | 35                                 | 939                                  | 237                                        | 80                                |
| JUL     | 2236                                 | 638                                        | 121                                | 2843                                 | 829                                        | 131                               |
| AUG     | 1209                                 | 272                                        | 28                                 | 2154                                 | 577                                        | 63                                |
| SEP     | 1689                                 | 466                                        | 97                                 | 1326                                 | 232                                        | 22                                |
| monsoon | 6429                                 | 1653                                       | 281                                | 7262                                 | 1875                                       | 296                               |

Cyclonic disturbances over North Indian Ocean in last two years:

| Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions              | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   | Yearly and Monthly Frequency of Cyclones and Depressions   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Period : 2020-2021                                                    | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         | Period : 2020-2021                                         |
| Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)                      | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           | Basin : Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)           |
| Intensity(Level) : Cyclonic Storm (CS) and Severe Cyclonic Storm Year | Jan                                                        | Feb                                                        | Mar                                                        | Apr                                                        | May                                                        | Jun                                                        | Jul                                                        | Aug                                                        | Sep                                                        | Oct                                                        | Nov                                                        | (SCS) Dec                                                  | Annual                                                     |
| 2021                                                                  | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 2                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 2                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 1                                                          | 5                                                          |
| 2022                                                                  | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 1                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 1                                                          | 0                                                          |                                                            | 2                                                          |
| Total                                                                 | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 3                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 0                                                          | 2                                                          | 1                                                          | 0                                                          | 1                                                          | 7                                                          |

## Annexure-I

## State wise heat waves (HW) reported during 2021 and 2022

| Average No. of HWdays during April to Jun for 2021-2022   | Average No. of HWdays during April to Jun for 2021-2022   |   Average No. of HWdays during April to Jun for 2021-2022 |   Average No. of HWdays during April to Jun for 2021-2022 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| State / UT                                                | No of stations used for study                             |                                                      2021 |                                                      2022 |
| Andhra Pradesh                                            | 7                                                         |                                                         4 |                                                         5 |
| Assam                                                     | 2                                                         |                                                         0 |                                                         0 |
| Bihar                                                     | 3                                                         |                                                         1 |                                                         6 |
| Chhattisgarh                                              | 2                                                         |                                                         1 |                                                         6 |
| Delhi                                                     | 1                                                         |                                                         3 |                                                        17 |
| Gujarat                                                   | 7                                                         |                                                         0 |                                                         5 |
| Haryana                                                   | 2                                                         |                                                         2 |                                                        24 |
| Himachal Pradesh                                          | 1                                                         |                                                         0 |                                                         0 |
| Jharkhand                                                 | 3                                                         |                                                         0 |                                                        18 |
| Karnataka                                                 | 11                                                        |                                                         0 |                                                         0 |
| Madhya Pradesh                                            | 8                                                         |                                                         1 |                                                        13 |
| Maharashtra                                               | 11                                                        |                                                         0 |                                                         4 |
| Odisha                                                    | 5                                                         |                                                         4 |                                                         5 |
| Punjab                                                    | 2                                                         |                                                         2 |                                                        24 |
| Rajasthan                                                 | 10                                                        |                                                         4 |                                                        26 |
| Tamil Nadu                                                | 5                                                         |                                                         3 |                                                         3 |
| Telangana                                                 | 2                                                         |                                                         0 |                                                         2 |
| Uttar Pradesh                                             | 8                                                         |                                                         1 |                                                        15 |
| Uttarakhand                                               | 1                                                         |                                                         7 |                                                        28 |
| West Bengal                                               | 4                                                         |                                                         3 |                                                         2 |

Annexure-II

| CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   | CASUALITIES / DEATHSDUE TO DISASTROUS WEATHER EVENTS FOR THEYEAR 2009- NOV.2022   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                   | 1                                                                                 | 2                                                                                 | 3                                                                                 | 4                                                                                 | 5                                                                                 | 6                                                                                 | 7                                                                                 | 8                                                                                 | 9                                                                                 | 10                                                                                | 11                                                                                |                                                                                   |
| YEAR                                                                              | SNO W FAL L                                                                       | CO LD WA VE                                                                       | HEA T WAV E                                                                       | SQ UA LL                                                                          | GALE                                                                              | DUS T STO RM                                                                      | LIG HTN ING                                                                       | THU NDE R STOR M                                                                  | HAI L STO RM                                                                      | FLOODS AND HEAVY RAINS                                                            | CYCLO NIC STORM                                                                   | TOTAL (WHOL E YEAR)                                                               |
| 2022                                                                              | 37                                                                                | 1                                                                                 | 30                                                                                | 1                                                                                 | 10                                                                                | 22                                                                                | 907                                                                               | 371                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 804                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 2183                                                                              |
| 2021                                                                              | 12                                                                                | 5                                                                                 | 0                                                                                 | 0                                                                                 | 4                                                                                 | 5                                                                                 | 640                                                                               | 26                                                                                | 1                                                                                 | 700                                                                               | 172                                                                               | 1565                                                                              |
| 2020                                                                              | 22                                                                                | 162                                                                               | 11                                                                                | 6                                                                                 | 12                                                                                | 14                                                                                | 270                                                                               | 594                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 758                                                                               | 115                                                                               | 1964                                                                              |
| 2019                                                                              | 65                                                                                | 291                                                                               | 505                                                                               | 3                                                                                 | 6                                                                                 | 25                                                                                | 415                                                                               | 348                                                                               | 2                                                                                 | 1297                                                                              | 60                                                                                | 3017                                                                              |
| 2018                                                                              | 18                                                                                | 280                                                                               | 33                                                                                | 0                                                                                 | 8                                                                                 | 237                                                                               | 342                                                                               | 572                                                                               | 8                                                                                 | 1099                                                                              | 157                                                                               | 2754                                                                              |
| 2017                                                                              | 38                                                                                | 51                                                                                | 375                                                                               | 15                                                                                | 10                                                                                | 5                                                                                 | 834                                                                               | 287                                                                               | 4                                                                                 | 1075                                                                              | 46                                                                                | 2740                                                                              |
| 2016                                                                              | 22                                                                                | 42                                                                                | 510                                                                               | 8                                                                                 | 3                                                                                 | 11                                                                                | 670                                                                               | 216                                                                               | 28                                                                                | 714                                                                               | 34                                                                                | 2258                                                                              |
| 2015                                                                              | 12                                                                                | 18                                                                                | 2081                                                                              | 1                                                                                 | 5                                                                                 | 30                                                                                | 498                                                                               | 324                                                                               | 39                                                                                | 917                                                                               | 94                                                                                | 4019                                                                              |
| 2014                                                                              | 62                                                                                | 58                                                                                | 547                                                                               | 9                                                                                 | 3                                                                                 | 51                                                                                | 352                                                                               | 246                                                                               | 35                                                                                | 953                                                                               | 46                                                                                | 2362                                                                              |
| 2013                                                                              | 30                                                                                | 271                                                                               | 1433                                                                              | 1                                                                                 | 3                                                                                 | 1                                                                                 | 326                                                                               | 327                                                                               | 54                                                                                | 5528                                                                              | 50                                                                                | 8024                                                                              |
| 2012                                                                              | 31                                                                                | 139                                                                               | 729                                                                               | 5                                                                                 | 5                                                                                 | 5                                                                                 | 434                                                                               | 190                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 395                                                                               | 61                                                                                | 1994                                                                              |
| 2011                                                                              | 14                                                                                | 722                                                                               | 12                                                                                | 0                                                                                 | 4                                                                                 | 21                                                                                | 177                                                                               | 331                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 654                                                                               | 46                                                                                | 1981                                                                              |
| 2010                                                                              | 25                                                                                | 450                                                                               | 269                                                                               | 0                                                                                 | 3                                                                                 | 41                                                                                | 431                                                                               | 373                                                                               | 45                                                                                | 1058                                                                              | 22                                                                                | 2717                                                                              |
| 2009                                                                              | 11                                                                                | 79                                                                                | 216                                                                               | 23                                                                                | 5                                                                                 | 8                                                                                 | 238                                                                               | 182                                                                               | 6                                                                                 | 1227                                                                              | 100                                                                               | 2095                                                                              |

*******