Cyclone & Flood Management — Set 8
Disaster Management · चक्रवात और बाढ़ प्रबंधन · Questions 71–80 of 140
Coastal embankments (bundhs) are used primarily for what purpose in flood-prone coastal areas?
Correct Answer: B. Preventing seawater ingress during storm surges
Coastal embankments (bundhs) are earthen structures built along coastlines and river banks to prevent seawater intrusion during storm surges and high tides. They are widely used in states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Kerala to protect agricultural land and settlements from coastal flooding. However, their maintenance is critical, as breaches during cyclones can cause catastrophic inundation.
What does the Integrated Flood Management (IFM) approach advocate instead of purely structural flood control?
Correct Answer: B. Combining structural measures with land-use planning and community preparedness
Integrated Flood Management (IFM) advocates combining structural flood control measures with non-structural approaches including land-use planning, flood plain zoning, early warning systems, and community preparedness. Rather than treating floods only as hazards to be controlled, IFM recognises that floodwaters also provide ecological and agricultural benefits. This holistic approach is promoted globally by the World Meteorological Organization and Global Water Partnership.
Cyclone Vardah (2016) primarily affected which Indian city?
Correct Answer: B. Chennai
Cyclone Vardah made landfall near Chennai on December 12, 2016, causing significant damage to the city's infrastructure, trees, and power supply. It was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm at the time of landfall. The cyclone forced the closure of Chennai airport and uprooted thousands of trees across the city.
Which Indian state has the longest coastline and therefore high cyclone exposure?
Correct Answer: A. Gujarat
Gujarat has the longest coastline of any Indian state, stretching about 1,600 km, giving it significant exposure to cyclones from the Arabian Sea. Gujarat's coastline includes the Saurashtra and Kutch regions which have been periodically hit by severe cyclones including Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023). The state has invested heavily in cyclone preparedness infrastructure.
The term 'landfall' in cyclone meteorology refers to what?
Correct Answer: B. The point and time when a cyclone centre crosses the coastline
Landfall refers to the point and time when the centre (eye) of a cyclone crosses the coastline and moves over land from the sea. Cyclones typically weaken rapidly after landfall due to loss of warm ocean moisture and increased surface friction. The intensity at landfall — wind speed, storm surge, and rainfall — determines the extent of damage and required evacuation.
What is the role of INCOIS in cyclone and flood management?
Correct Answer: B. Issuing ocean state forecasts and tsunami/storm surge warnings
INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) provides ocean state forecasts including storm surge predictions and early warnings for tsunamis and coastal flooding. It operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences alongside IMD and provides critical information for coastal disaster management. INCOIS storm surge alerts help coastal administrations in timely evacuations during approaching cyclones.
Which cyclone caused the 2020 pandemic-era disaster management challenge when it hit during COVID-19?
Correct Answer: B. Cyclone Amphan
Cyclone Amphan posed a dual disaster management challenge in May 2020 because it struck during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Evacuation shelters had to accommodate social distancing protocols, reducing their effective capacity and complicating mass evacuations. Despite these challenges, authorities evacuated millions of people in West Bengal and Odisha before landfall.
What is a 'multipurpose cyclone shelter' in India's coastal disaster management?
Correct Answer: B. A building used as school/community hall normally and cyclone shelter during disasters
A multipurpose cyclone shelter is a specially designed, elevated, reinforced structure that functions as a school, community hall, or other community facility during normal times and as a cyclone shelter during disaster events. This dual-use concept maximizes the use of disaster infrastructure investment. India has built thousands of such shelters along its cyclone-prone coastlines.
Cyclone Nivar (2020) primarily affected which Indian state?
Correct Answer: C. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
Cyclone Nivar made landfall near Puducherry on November 25, 2020, affecting Tamil Nadu and Puducherry significantly. It was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to coastal Tamil Nadu. The Chennai region received extremely heavy rainfall, and large-scale evacuations were carried out in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Which year saw the cyclone named 'Aila' devastate the Sundarbans region?
Correct Answer: B. 2009
Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans region of West Bengal and Bangladesh on May 25, 2009, causing catastrophic flooding, coastal embankment breaches, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The cyclone's impact on the Sundarbans was severe because low-lying islands were completely inundated and coastal embankments were breached extensively. Recovery in the Sundarbans took years after Aila.