Lok Sabha Question No. 1247 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-14
Subject: Effects of Sitrang Cyclone
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Bhola Singh, Sukanta Majumdar, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1247

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## EFFECTS OF SITRANG CYCLONE

## 1247.    SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA):

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  cyclone  Sitrang  has  recently  ripped  through  Northeast  India  and  snapped telecommunication networks and damaged standing crops;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  cyclone  had  weakened  into  a  low-pressure  area  over  Northeast  India  and West Bengal and the road links to the entire northeast got affected in many places;
- (d) if so, the remedial action taken thereon;
- (e) the total loss reported due to the cyclone Sitrang in the country; and
- (f) the other precautionary measures taken by the Government to minimize the damages due to the cyclone Sitrang in the Country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)-(b)  Cyclone  'SITRANG'  has  not  affected  Northeast  India  directly.  However,  its  remnants have caused fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/thunderstorm activity over Northeast India on two to three days along with intense rainfall reported on one or two days. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued impact based forecasts, wherein the possible damages the winds and rain could cause during the movement of the cyclone is mentioned.
- (c)-(d)  The life-history of Cyclonic Storm Sitrang over Bay of Bengal during 22 nd -25 th October, 2022 is as follows :
-  A low pressure area formed over North Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea & Southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) in the early morning (0530 hrs IST) of 20 th October, 2022. Under favourable environmental conditions, it concentrated into a  depression and moved northwestwards and intensified into a deep depression over west central BoB in the early morning (0530 hrs IST) of 23 rd October.
-  Thereafter, it  moved nearly northwards  and intensified into the cyclonic  storm  (CS) 'SITRANG' in the evening (1730 hrs IST) of 23 rd October. It then gradually recurved north-northeastwards  and  crossed  Bangladesh  coast  between  Tinkona  and  Sandwip close  to  Barisal  (near  22.15 0 N/90.35 0 E)  in  the  night  of  24 th October  during  2130  to 2330 hours  ISt  of  24 th October  as  a  Cyclonic  Storm  with  maximum  sustained  wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.
-  Continuing  to  move  north-northeastwards,  it  weakened  into  a  deep  depression  over northeast  Bangladesh  in  the  early  hours  (0230  hours  IST  of  25 th ),  into  a  depression over interior Bangladesh in the early morning (0530 hours IST) of 25 th October and into  a  well  marked  low  pressure  area  over  northeast  Bangladesh  &  adjoining Meghalaya  in  the  forenoon  (0830  hours  IST)  of  25th  October,  2022.  It  further weakened into a low pressure area over south Assam and adjoining areas of northeast Bangladesh  and  east  Meghalaya  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  before  getting  less marked  in  the  early  morning  hours  of  26 th November  2022.  Thus,  the  cyclone  has weakened into a low pressure over NE India.
-  The observed track of the system is presented in Fig. 1 .

Fig.1: Observed track of cyclonic storm 'SITRANG' over the BoB during 22 nd - 25 th October, 2022

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Monitoring and issuing early warnings for Cyclonic Storm, SITRANG to minimize the expected damages had been done successfully by IMD. IMD maintained round the clock watch over the North Indian Ocean and the cyclone was monitored since 6 th October, 14 days prior to formation of low pressure area over North Andaman Sea on 20 th October and 16 days prior to actual genesis (formation of depression) on 22 nd October.

- (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  total  loss  is  the mandate under the respective State/UT Governments.
- (f) Monitoring and issuing early warnings for Cyclonic Storm, SITRANG to minimize the expected damages had been done successfully by IMD. IMD maintained round the clock watch over the North Indian Ocean and the cyclone was monitored since 6 th October, 14 days prior to formation of low pressure area over North Andaman Sea on 20 th October and  16  days  prior  to  actual  genesis  (formation  of  depression)  on  22 nd October.  The information  about  the  system  was  first  released  in  the  weekly  extended  range  outlook issued  by  IMD  on  6 th October.  The  cyclone  was  monitored  with  the  help  of  available satellite  observations  from  INSAT  3D  and  3DR,  polar  orbiting  satellites  and  available ships  &  buoy  observations  in  the  region.  On  the  day  of  landfall  observations  from Bangladesh Meteorological Department were utilised for monitoring the system. Various global  models  and  dynamical-statistical  models  run  by  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences (MoES)  institutions  including  IMD,  NCMRWF,  IITM  and  INCOIS  were  utilized  to predict  the  genesis,  track,  landfall  and  intensity  of  the  cyclone  as  well  as  associated severe  weather.  A  digitized  forecasting  system  of  IMD  was  utilized  for  analysis  and comparison  of  various  numerical  weather  prediction  model  guidance,  decision  making process and warning products generation.

Considering the development of cyclonic storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal (BoB), IMD issued first Special Message and Press Release at 1400 hours IST of 20 th October on formation of low pressure area over North Andaman Sea and neighbourhood. It was also indicated that the system would intensify into a depression and cyclonic storm by 22 nd and  24 th October  respectively.    The  movement  of  the  system  towards  West  BengalBangladesh coasts was also predicted.

Special Message and Press Release were further updated on 21 st October along with the forecast track, intensity and wind distribution around the system centre upto next 5 days. It  was  also  indicated  that  the  system  would  cross  Bangladesh  coast  and  Bangladesh  & adjoining West Bengal coasts would be worst impacted by the storm. Thus, the landfall of the cyclone with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph was predicted by IMD when the system was a low pressure area over Andaman Sea and three and a half days in advance of landfall time of the cyclone.

Pre cyclone watch for West Bengal coast was issued at 1300 hours IST of 22 nd October with the formation of depression over southeast & adjoining east central BoB (about 60 hours prior to landfall of Sitrang over Bangladesh coast).

Cyclone Alert for West Bengal coast was issued with intensification of depression into deep depression over east central BoB at 0900 hrs IST of 23 rd (about 40 hours prior to landfall of Sitrang). It was upgraded as Cyclone Warning for West Bengal coast and was issued at 0230 hours IST of 24 th October (about 20 hours prior to landfall of Sitrang).

A total of 23 National bulletins including 2 special messages for national and state level disaster managers, 6 press releases for print & electronic media, 3 Special Messages from Director General of IMD for high level disaster management officers, 23 tropical cyclone advisories & special tropical weather outlook for WMO/ESCAP Panel member countries including Bangladesh & Myanmar, 9 tropical cyclone advisories for International Civil Aviation, 11 advisories for sea area under Global Maritime Distress Safety System, 17 customised location specific bulletins for offshore/onshore operators, daily video updates, regular  updates  on  social  media  (Facebook,  WhatsApp,  Twitter),  SMS  to  disaster managers, general public, fishermen and farmers were issued by IMD Headquarter along with similar action by state level offices  at  Andhra  Pradesh,  Odisha,  West  Bengal  and Andaman & Nicobar  Islands  and  INCOIS  for  fishermen.  Regular  messages  were  also sent to Bangladesh & Myanmar through WhatsApp in association with this system. DG, IMD had regular conversation with DG, BMD during the system.

In  addition  to  this,  the  details  of  warning  issued  by  Regional  Meteorological  Centre (RMC), Guwahati, Meteorological Centre (M.C.) Agrartala and M.C. Shillong are given in Annexure .

## ANNEXURE

## I.  Warnings and Bulletins issued by RMC Guwahati from 21-25 Oct 2022

| Bulletins/Warnings                          | Numbers Issued                                                                          |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Impact Based Forecast (IBF)                 | 14                                                                                      |
| Special Weather Bulletin                    | 19                                                                                      |
| Press Release                               | 5                                                                                       |
| Message through Common Alert Protocol (CAP) | Issued for the forecasted districts of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram on 24 th Oct 2022. |
| Social Media Platform                       | Facebook 40, Twitter 40, WhatsApp 77, Youtube 2                                         |
| Nowcast                                     | 352                                                                                     |
| Flash Flood Guidance                        | 2                                                                                       |
| IBF for Agriculture                         | 12                                                                                      |

## II.  Warnings and Bulletins issued by MC Agartala from 21-24 Oct 2022

|   SN | Description                                            | Details                                         |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Special Bulletins issued                               | 4 Nos.                                          |
|    2 | Press Release                                          | 3 Nos.                                          |
|    3 | Impact Based Forecast(IBF) for Agriculture             | 3 nos.                                          |
|    4 | National Bulletins for Sitrang                         | 23 Nos                                          |
|    5 | Common Alert Protocol (CAP) Messages                   | Total - 3,15,28,794 (Y-2,62,57,660 +R-52,71,134 |
|    6 | Social Media Platform( Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter) | 670                                             |
|    7 | Meeting with stakeholders                              | 23                                              |
|    8 | Media Briefings                                        | 17                                              |

## III. Warnings and Bulletins issued by MC Shillong from 21-24 Oct 2022:

1. Special Weather Bulletins were issued along with District Level warning.
2. District Level Impact Forecast was issued.
3. City IBF for Shillong was issued.
4. 24 Hour CAP was issued. Based on IMD warning and CAP alert generated, aprox 37 Lakh SMS were issued via CAP Platform by SDMA
5. Press Release was issued.
6. State Government officers were regularly informed over phone and whatsapp.
7. Regular Social Media Updates were issued.

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