Here are some of the top natural calamities that ravaged India in the year 2020:
Earthquake in Delhi-NCR
Several northern state of India including Delhi, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir recorded low-intensity earthquake in the span of one and a half months earlier this year in June. Speaking of the Delhi NCR region, the area since April witnessed over 15 low-intensity earthquakes.
Delhi falls under high-risk seismic zones and is in zone IV which is susceptible to earthquakes of 5-6 magnitude and occasionally of 7-8 magnitude. Geologists warned that this could indicate that a powerful earthquake could strike Delhi-NCR at any time. Delhi’s proximity to the Himalayan region also makes it very vulnerable
Floods And Landslides In Assam
North-eastern state Assam once again suffered heavily due to downpour in the state. The Brahmaputra flowing above the danger level at many places in the state left streets and houses flooded. Thousands of people left their homes to migrate to a safer place, giving the rest of the nation chills down the spine.
Going by the various media reports, at least 27 of the total 33 districts of Assam are affected due to the violent flow of flood-water post downpour. More than 65 people have lost their lives in the natural calamity whereas nearly 40 lakh people are homeless amid the deteriorating flood situation, triggered by heavy rains.
On the whole, Assam's death toll due to floods and landslides in this year has gone up by 97. While 71 people died in flood-related incidents, 26 were killed in landslides.
ALSO READ | Assam In Dismay: From Covid, Oil Well Blast To Floods & Landslides; State Facing Major Human Tragedy
Cyclone Amphan
The severe cyclonic storm Amphan over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coast wreaked havoc in the coastal areas after it made landfall near Digha in May this year. According to reports, Amphan caused strong winds up to 155-185 kmph and heavy rainfall. It has done severe damage in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas districts and their nearby areas. ALSO READ | WHO Hails Odisha Govt For Efficient Covid-19 Management Despite Cyclone Amphan & Migrant Issues -- Key Points
Reports say that four people have died in West Bengal due to super-cyclone Amphan. Three died in North 24 Parganas whereas one lost his life in Howrah. Reports said that Amphan has destroyed over 5,000 houses in Minakhan, Haroa, Basirhat Hingalgunj, and Hasnabad areas of the North 24 Parganas district.
Cyclone Nivar
Cyclone Nivar made landfall on the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 26. The storm crossed the coast near Puducherry early Thursday, battering the union territory and neighboring Tamil Nadu before, moving northwards and weakening into a deep depression which lay over South Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, about 30 Km west southwest of Tirupati.
The storm left a trail of devastation such as uprooting of trees and power lines and also led to the death of four people-- three people in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra Pradesh. Following heavy rains, Home Minister Amit Shah assured all help to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Cyclone Burevi
Within days after Cyclone Nivar made landfall on the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 26, the India Meteorological Department issued a warning of another cyclone brewing in the southeast region of the Bay of Bengal. IMD in its notice said depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 7 kmph during past six hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST. ALSO READ | Cyclone Burevi Weakens Into Deep Depression, Check Pictures
Storm Burevi was a weak tropical cyclone which made landfall in Sri Lanka and brought minimal impact to Southern India in December. Burevi slowly intensified reaching its peak intensity on December 2, just before making landfall in Sri Lanka. Burevi then weakened, entering the Gulf of Mannar the next day. Burevi proceeded to dissipate after stalling on December 5.
Flooding occurred in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, inundating the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Crop damage also occurred in the area. As of December 6, 11 people lost lives while 5 others were missing in the storm.