Cyclone & Flood Management — Set 2

Correct Answer: C. 1.2 million

Approximately 1.2 million people were evacuated in under 48 hours before Cyclone Fani made landfall in Odisha on May 3, 2019. This was one of the largest evacuations in Indian history and is internationally recognized as a model of disaster preparedness. The NDRF deployed over 65 teams to assist in rescue and relief operations.

Correct Answer: B. Bhubaneswar Airport

Bhubaneswar Airport (Biju Patnaik International Airport) was severely damaged during Cyclone Fani in May 2019. The airport's infrastructure, including the control tower and runway lights, was extensively damaged by the powerful winds. It was closed for several days after the cyclone and had to undergo major repairs before resuming operations.

Correct Answer: B. NDRF

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) played a crucial role in evacuation, rescue, and relief operations during Cyclone Fani in 2019. Over 65 NDRF teams were pre-positioned in Odisha before the cyclone struck. The NDRF's proactive deployment contributed significantly to the low death toll despite the cyclone's extreme intensity.

Correct Answer: C. Super Cyclonic Storm

Cyclone Amphan was classified as a Super Cyclonic Storm when it intensified in the Bay of Bengal in May 2020, making it the first super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since the 1999 Odisha cyclone. Although it weakened slightly before landfall, it still made landfall as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm on May 20, 2020. It caused extensive damage in West Bengal and Odisha.

Correct Answer: B. West Bengal and Odisha

West Bengal and Odisha were the primary states affected by Cyclone Amphan when it made landfall on May 20, 2020. The cyclone caused devastating damage in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal and parts of coastal Odisha. Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, was also severely affected with widespread flooding and infrastructural damage.

Correct Answer: C. May 20, 2020

Cyclone Amphan made landfall on May 20, 2020, near the Sundarbans region on the West Bengal-Bangladesh border. It struck during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a dual challenge for relief operations involving social distancing in shelters. Amphan caused damages estimated at over ₹1 lakh crore in West Bengal alone.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

Cyclone Tauktae primarily affected Gujarat when it made landfall on May 17–18, 2021, near Una in the Gir Somnath district. It was one of the most powerful cyclones to hit Gujarat in recent decades, classified as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm. The cyclone also affected Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra during its northward track.

Correct Answer: B. INS Kochi

INS Kochi was involved in rescue operations during Cyclone Tauktae in May 2021, particularly for rescuing survivors from the barge P305 that sank in the Arabian Sea. The barge was carrying 261 workers and was caught in the cyclonic storm. INS Kochi, along with other naval vessels, rescued over 186 people from the Arabian Sea.

Correct Answer: B. Arabian Sea

Cyclone Tauktae formed in the Arabian Sea and intensified as it moved northward, becoming one of the strongest Arabian Sea cyclones on record. It struck the western coast of India before making landfall in Gujarat. The Arabian Sea has been witnessing increasingly intense cyclones in recent years, attributed partly to climate change.

Correct Answer: C. 2023

Cyclone Biparjoy formed in the Arabian Sea in June 2023 and made landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat on June 15, 2023. It was a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and one of the longest-lasting cyclones in the Arabian Sea. Massive pre-emptive evacuations in Gujarat and Rajasthan reduced casualties significantly.