While early warning systems help the administration prepare communities to safeguard themselves and their possessions during a cyclone, collaborative post-disaster relief work with other agencies helps people in the Sundarbans recover fast.
Remal, the severe cyclone, made landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around 9.15 pm on 25 May 2024. The devastating effects of climate change became evident in the Sundarbans region of South Bengal after Cyclone Remal.
While 44 people were killed due to Remal in northeast India, two districts, namely, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, were the most affected compared to the other districts of West Bengal.
Mukul Midday and Abhijit Rana, residents of Gosaba and Sagar blocks in South 24 Parganas district, related stories of the extensive damage that their communities endured. Homes, vegetable farms and fish farms were severely damaged by the cyclone. But the preparedness reduced casualties.
People living in the Sundarbans have a wealth of traditional knowledge that has been refined over many centuries to fend against the destructive power of natural calamities such as cyclones. These native practices, which are based on their knowledge of the complex ecology they live in, are a synthesis of common sense and cultural legacy.
They have developed a diverse strategy for resilience – ranging from early warning indicators discovered through minute changes in animal behaviour to the calculated utilisation of native plants as natural barriers.
The Sundarbans communities build and strengthen shelters, gather necessary supplies and create communication networks vital for quick reaction, recovery and mutual support. Such community resilience reflects their continuing social connectedness.
Furthermore, these conventional methods work in tandem with contemporary interventions and technology, creating a hybrid strategy that benefits from the best aspects of both worlds.
Early warning systems help administrations and communities learn about impending cyclones. And a comprehensive plan was needed for Cyclone Remal to protect lives and reduce damage. The district administrations warned residents in susceptible locations, such as the Sundarbans and coastal parts of West Bengal.
It was crucial to implement structural measures such as reinforcing the houses against high winds, securing household objects and cutting trees to reduce the risk of damage from flooding and strong winds – as is traditionally practised by the people.
To provide inhabitants with timely warnings and evacuation orders, the government set up efficient communication channels. Through community awareness initiatives, people were made aware of preventative action to save their families and themselves. The administration created evacuation plans, detailing secure routes and nearby shelters.
Despite these efforts, the impact was significant, with at least 29,500 houses detrimentally affected by the cyclone, underlining the magnitude of the disaster.
The authorities swiftly mobilised resources and evacuated 2,07,060 people to 1,438 safe shelters, in addition to setting up 341 kitchens. They distributed tarpaulins to those in coastal and low-lying areas, for temporary shelter and protection from the elements.
Midday and Rana said that the relief centres that offered them sufficient food, clean water and shelter were a lifeline. The district administration’s pre-emptive actions, like setting up these centres and distributing essential items like medicine, dry food, drinking water and sanitation kits, surely lessened the cyclone’s effect on the Sundarbans’ vulnerable residents.
Furthermore, non-government organisations lent their support through community kitchens. These collaborative initiatives demonstrated the value of community-led actions that support the work of government agencies during emergencies.
A multimodal strategy can lessen vulnerability and increase the resilience of communities that are prone to cyclones. The installation of storm surge barriers, the enforcement of strict building rules for cyclone-resistant constructions and the preservation of natural buffers like mangroves to absorb the impact of storm surges are examples of structural measures.
In addition, financial tools like insurance policies can support people recover after a disaster, easing the financial strain on impacted communities.
Traditional wisdom and contemporary preparedness measures worked together to significantly lessen the impact of Cyclone Remal. The way people came together to respond to Cyclone Remal in the Sundarbans demonstrated the importance of pre-emptive planning and teamwork in disaster relief.
Preparation and response plans were influenced by the lessons learnt from prior cyclones, underscoring the significance of ongoing development and adaptation of disaster management techniques, with an emphasis on creating resilient communities.
The lead image shows embankments that got washed away in Pathar Pratima, necessitating the evacuation of people (Photo by Rangeet Mitra)
Rangeet Mitra is a development professional who works with several central and state government departments as well as non-governmental organisations. He is a chemical engineer with an MBA in public systems (environment).
