12% population vulnerable to disasters

Nellore: A recent study conducted by the researchers of AP State Development Planning Society revealed that around 12 per cent of total population in Nellore district is at risk in case of any catastrophic disaster occurs due to weather system in the Bay of Bengal. The model was predicted when the wind speed of 235 kmph which is similar to the recent Hudhud Cyclone. The cyclone hit the Visakhapatnam city in 2014.

In fact, 430 mandals in the entire coastal area of 9 districts are at risk in which 11 pc of population is expected to face risk in which 7 pc of rural and 4 pc of urban population will be affected.

Nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh such as Srikakulam where 8 pc, 2 pc in Vizianagaram, 11 pc in Visakhapatnam, 17 pc in East Godavari, 10 pc in West Godavari, 12 pc in Krishna, 7 pc in Guntur, 9 pc in Prakasam and 12 pc population in Nellore will be affected in case of such huge disasters. East Godavari district is at higher risk when compared to other districts across the State.

The coastal Andhra Pradesh is known for frequent tropical cyclones and associated floods and storm surges. The 1977 cyclone that was accompanied by a 5-metre storm surge killed around 10,000 people besides causing enormous damages to the property in the Krishna delta region.

The 3 to 4-metre storm surges occurred respectively in the 1990 and 1996 killing thousands of people and millions of livestock, besides damages to the property in Godavari delta. The study says percentage of population at risk has been categorised into four classes as low, medium, high and very high in 56, 86, 31, and 17 mandals respectively in all the districts. 190 mandals out of 430 will receive devastating winds at 235 kmph. 

The existing cyclone shelters of 664 can accommodate only 8 pc of rural people and the remaining 92 pc of the rural people also at risk which indicates that the disaster management and rescue operations to concentrate on the affected mandals where population at risk during cyclone event.

It may be recalled that very high vulnerability due to low elevation was recorded in southern parts of the region, especially in Pulicat, Koduru, Krishna and Godavari delta areas. Moderate and low vulnerability trends were spread the northern coast.

Very low vulnerability due to high elevation was recorded in Vishakhapatnam coasts with 72-metre along the coast. Very high vulnerability was recorded in southern and northern parts of the region, especially south of Nellore in terms of sea level rise.

By P V Prasad