Three Storms, One Coast: Odisha 1999, Phailin 2013 and Fani 2019
The Same Coast, Three Times
The coast of Odisha has faced some of India's strongest cyclones. Three of them, 1999, 2013 and 2019, make a natural comparison because they struck the same region, and yet the human cost was very different.
1999: The Super Cyclone
Sustained winds of 260 km/h at landfall near Paradip on 29 October 1999. Few shelters, limited warning and a huge surge. 9,887 people died and the damage was about 4.44 billion US dollars.
2013: Phailin
Phailin peaked at 215 km/h and crossed the coast near Gopalpur on 12 October 2013, with winds of about 200-210 km/h at landfall. Forecasts were accurate days ahead, and nearly a million people were moved out of the danger zone. 46 people died, with about 4.26 billion US dollars in damage.
2019: Fani
Fani also peaked at 215 km/h and made landfall near Puri on 3 May 2019 with sustained winds of about 175-185 km/h. More than a million people were moved to cyclone shelters and higher ground. 81 people died in India and Bangladesh combined, and the damage was about 8.1 billion US dollars. Puri was the worst hit.
What Made the Difference
- Forecasts: IMD's track and intensity forecasts improved, so the landfall area was known well in advance.
- Shelters: Multipurpose cyclone shelters built after 1999 gave people somewhere safe to go.
- Evacuation: The state moved very large numbers of people before the storm, rather than after.
- Communication: Warnings were sent through many channels to reach the last village.
A Note of Caution
Lives were saved, but damage remained heavy: Fani alone caused about 8.1 billion US dollars in losses. Preparedness reduces deaths far more easily than it reduces damage to homes, crops and power networks.
Compare the storms yourself in our archive, and read the full story of the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone.