Rainfall data of Darjeeling and Sikkim : Aug 2015

Gangtok, Darjeeling and Kalimpong had deficient rainfall in Aug2015 whereas Kurseong and Mangan (N Sikkim) had an excess in rainfall.
Excess rainfall seen in S Bengal was the aftermath of Cyclone Komen which formed in the Bay, end of July2015. No other significant system affecting our region formed in the Bay of Bengal in Aug2015.
There were no major landslides or fatal landslides in Darjeeling and Sikkim.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Darjeeling district

Rainfall data Aug2014

IMetD clamped a 'heavy rainfall warning' in the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal (SHWB) and Sikkim region for much of Aug2014 even though there was no major activity in the Bay of Bengal (we plotted two low pressure areas 1 and 2, during the month).
In Kalimpong, we experienced some of the soggiest and damp days thus far in 2014 even as the periods of heavy rainfall was limited to just 3 days.
The heaviest rainfall during Aug2014 was along the plains of Dooars and even Siliguri with the mountainous region receiving considerably less rain.
There were no reports of major landslides in this region.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch (update) : The storm gets a name, Cyclone PHAILIN

09Oct2013 : The deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a Cyclonic Storm "PHAILIN" which is Thai for "sapphire" (for a comprehensive read on how cyclones are named see here). 

IMetD forecast states :-
"The cyclonic storm, Phailin over east central Bay of Bengal moved slightly northwest wards, and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST of today the 10th October 2013 near latitude 14.00N and longitude 92.00E, about 900km southsouth east of Paradip, 950km south east of Kalingapatnam, 1000 km east-southeast of  Visakhapatnam. The system would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.It would continue to move northwest wards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by night of 12th October, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph".

The Odisha Government has issued a high alert and cancelled Dussehra holidays for employees in 14 districts (Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts). District Collectors along with the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force  have been asked to ensure the safety of the people.
In this regard, Odisha has one of the best State Disaster Management Authorities in the country, see here.

STH has been tracking this storm for some days now and it will be 2 more days before it makes landfall. Several points emerge from this :-

• Thanks to advances in technology and at least for hydrological disasters (floods, landslides and even flashfloods) it is possible to get several days advance warning  and it is rare that such an event will occur suddenly and without any notice.
• Again satellite imagery, doppler radar and other techniques can give us largely accurate forecast on the expected intensity of rain and duration.
• Track predications of storms has also become accurate and our observation has been that severe storms have made landfall more or less as predicted.
• What is of essence, therefore is what we do with all this information which is now available to us?
  • Have we trained and prepared for such an eventuality?
  • How good are our defenses to absorb and withstand intense, heavy rainfall for several days?
  • Do we have a volunteer force of young people who can help in evacuation, search and rescue?
  • Have we identified the vulnerable, landslide prone areas and vulnerable sections of society?
  • Can the drainage system in our urban mountain centres handle the huge volumes of water which the storm will dump?
  • Is the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) trained and well equipped?
  • Are back - up generators and battery operated wireless communication gear available at control rooms and life-line structures?

These and many more questions will have to be answered where ever Cyclone Phailin hits the shore in few days time.


Praful and Rohan Rao,
Kalimpong,
District Darjeeling,
Email- rohan.rao1313@gmail.com  

Rainfall data of Darjeeling district and N Sikkim - April 2013

The pre-monsoon season in India lasts from Mar- May and as per the above map from IMetD we are running deficient in rainfall.
STH has installed a new ARG in Mangan (N Sikkim) but regretfully the ARG at Jaldhaka in the foothills of the Dooars has become unserviceable.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong

Bhamey Gaon (Sindebung, Kalimpong) - a village where homes disappear

 

1. The landslides at Bhamey Gaon (N 27°04.136’, E 088°29.626’, elevation 919m) at Sindebung, in Kalimpong have been featured many times on this blog earlier mainly because
a) This landslide if ignored for much longer would impact the stability of Kalimpong town itself (see top image)
b) Something can still be done here to arrest the decay and devastation and the landslide situation is not hopelessly out of control, like in many other areas of the Darjeeling district (eg Balasun, Chibo/Pashyor, and Samalbung).
c) The rural community of this area have suffered in silence for decades despite the many visits by politicians, engineers, geologists, media, scientists and the much touted "paradigm shift" towards disaster prevention and preparedness which has yet to see the light of day in this village.
2. The following persons have lost their land, property, homes and moved elsewhere with their families :-
i)     Shri DS Bhujel
ii)    Shri KB Sundas
iii)   Shri BB Bhujel
iv)   Shri TB Thapa
v)    Shri TB Bhujel
vi)   Shri Gopal Chhetri
vii)  Shri Shiv Kr Bhujel
viii) Shri HB Bhujel
ix)   Shri Ganga Ram Sundas
3. The following persons will lose their land and homes in the foreseeable future
i)    Shri BirBahadur Biswakarma - by Sep2013.
ii)   Shri Shyam Bhujel - within 5yrs.
iii)  Shri Dirga Bahadur Bhujel - within 5yrs.
iv)  Shri RB Bhujel - within 5yrs.
v)   Shri  RB Biswakarma - within 5yrs.
vi)  Shri Sanjay Bhujel
vii) Shri Dilip Bhujel
viii) Shrimati Remina Pradhan
3. This highlights perhaps the most striking difference between landslides and most other forms of disaster
- that after floods and even earthquakes, the victims or survivors can still return to their land and start the painful progress of rebuilding......
- in the case of landslides, the victim or survivor has nothing left to return to because the land itself and everything on it is gone.
Praful Rao