(Hazra et al. 2002). An area of nearly 97 km
2 of these islands has been lost to flood,
coastal erosion, and submergence (Danda 2010).
The Bengal delta has witnessed extreme tropical cyclones quite often, damaging
livelihoods and mangrove plants (Sahana et al. 2015). The cyclones have a tendency
to return after about 2 years or less. This delta is one of the most storm surge-prone
areas. Nearly 26 of the world’s 35 total deadliest cyclones have occurred in the Bay
of Bengal. In the past two centuries, about 27% of world’s tropical cycloneassociated deaths in India were recorded here. Cyclonic storms have caused a
large number of deaths in this densely populated delta and rendered several thousand
people homeless. The deadliest storm in world history, the Bhola Cyclone of 1970,
killed around 300,000–500,000 people, caused by landfall in Bangladesh and high
storm surge (estimated at up to 10.4 m or 34 ft) in the coastal areas. The 1991
Bangladesh cyclone was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in
the basin. This tropical cyclone caused a 6.1 m (20 ft) storm surge, which inundated
the coastline, causing at least 138,866 deaths. The Odisha super cyclone of 1999 that
made landfall near Paradip had a wind speed of 260–270 km/h in the core area,
which produced a huge storm surge and took away nearly 10,000 lives. Tropical
cyclone Sidr (2007), which made landfall in Bangladesh, caused a storm surge as
great as 5 m across Sundarban and killed nearly 4235 persons. Tropical Storm
Rashmi (2008) swept through Bangladesh leaving behind many downed trees,
damaged crops and houses, and power outages in several districts (Sahana et al.
2019a). The storm surge height of cyclone Aila (2009) was 2–3 m above tide levels,
Fig. 5.1 Location of the study area: (a) location of Bengal delta in the India subcontinent; (b)
location of Sundarban in West Bengal; (c) Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and the sampled
villages
5 Evaluating Adaptation Strategies to Coastal Multihazards in Sundarban. . .
103
2 of these islands has been lost to flood,
coastal erosion, and submergence (Danda 2010).
The Bengal delta has witnessed extreme tropical cyclones quite often, damaging
livelihoods and mangrove plants (Sahana et al. 2015). The cyclones have a tendency
to return after about 2 years or less. This delta is one of the most storm surge-prone
areas. Nearly 26 of the world’s 35 total deadliest cyclones have occurred in the Bay
of Bengal. In the past two centuries, about 27% of world’s tropical cycloneassociated deaths in India were recorded here. Cyclonic storms have caused a
large number of deaths in this densely populated delta and rendered several thousand
people homeless. The deadliest storm in world history, the Bhola Cyclone of 1970,
killed around 300,000–500,000 people, caused by landfall in Bangladesh and high
storm surge (estimated at up to 10.4 m or 34 ft) in the coastal areas. The 1991
Bangladesh cyclone was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in
the basin. This tropical cyclone caused a 6.1 m (20 ft) storm surge, which inundated
the coastline, causing at least 138,866 deaths. The Odisha super cyclone of 1999 that
made landfall near Paradip had a wind speed of 260–270 km/h in the core area,
which produced a huge storm surge and took away nearly 10,000 lives. Tropical
cyclone Sidr (2007), which made landfall in Bangladesh, caused a storm surge as
great as 5 m across Sundarban and killed nearly 4235 persons. Tropical Storm
Rashmi (2008) swept through Bangladesh leaving behind many downed trees,
damaged crops and houses, and power outages in several districts (Sahana et al.
2019a). The storm surge height of cyclone Aila (2009) was 2–3 m above tide levels,
Fig. 5.1 Location of the study area: (a) location of Bengal delta in the India subcontinent; (b)
location of Sundarban in West Bengal; (c) Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and the sampled
villages
5 Evaluating Adaptation Strategies to Coastal Multihazards in Sundarban. . .
103