Cyclone-induced coastal vulnerability, livelihood challenges and mitigation measures of Matla–Bidya inter-estuarine area, Indian Sundarban

Abstract

Indian Sundarban is highly susceptible to tropical cyclones and resultant impacts such as storm surge-induced floods, embankment breaching, and saline water intrusion. It affects life and livelihood in severe ways. Mitigation and policy measures are therefore very important, based on information gathered at the grassroots level. Hence, this study is designed to assess inter-village variation in cyclone vulnerability, considering physical vulnerability, social vulnerability, and mitigation capacity. This study also highlights livelihood challenges faced by coastal dwellers. Geospatial and quantitative methods were used to assess the composite vulnerability index (CVI). Remote sensing data and climatic data were integrated to assess physical vulnerability and various socioeconomic data were incorporated to determine the social vulnerability. Moreover, an intensive field survey (2020–2021) was also conducted to understand the livelihood challenges of local people and accordingly suggest mitigation measures to cope with natural hazards. According to this analysis, nearly 18% of the total population living in the southern and eastern parts of the Matla–Bidya inter-estuarine area (MBI) are extremely vulnerable (CVI > 0.544) due to their geographical location and high exposure to coastal hazards. Almost 51% of the total populations inhabited in 46% of the total MBI villages are experiencing high to moderate vulnerability. Conversely, MBI villages in the northern part, where 32% of the total population lives, show low vulnerability (CVI < 0.387) due to less exposure and high resilience. Coastal low-lying villages are often hardest hit by tropical cyclones. Therefore, effective mitigation strategies and coping mechanisms are essentially needed to reduce the adverse impacts of cyclones.

Ecosystem and Vulnerabilities to Fisher’s Community: Tampara Wetland, South Odisha Coast, India

“…About 18 worst-affected cyclonic storms have ransacked our globe causing about 1% of all deaths and approximately more than $800 billion in economic damages, since 1998, in the hydrographic cruise, North Indian Ocean [13], https://ourworldin data.org/natural-disasters). The Bay of Bengal (BoB) has been a hotbed for cyclonic storms and shall increase abnormally, frequently and intense causing and become apocalyptic lives, property and ecosystems, especially along the Odisha coast [14][15][16].…”

Cyclone vulnerability assessment in the coastal districts of Bangladesh

“…Several studies have been performed over the coastal region of the world to detect coastal vulnerability of cyclone using IPCC framework. For example: Multi-criterion analysis of cyclone risk along the coast of Tamil Nadu, India [ 16 ], tropical cyclone assessment using both cyclone track data and metrological data in India [ 17 ], multidimensional model for cyclone vulnerability assessment of urban slum dwellers in India [ 18 ], cyclone vulnerability assessment using GIS and Remote sensing in Tamil Nadu, India [ 19 ], cyclone-induced coastal vulnerability, livelihood challenges and mitigation measures of Matla-Bidya interfluve area, Indian Sundarbans [ 20 ], mapping the impact of climate change on the vulnerability of community livelihoods in the riparian zone of the Gangatic Plain, India [ 21 ], coastal vulnerability assessment using Landsat and Cubesat in Karachi, Pakistan [ 22 ], climate change vulnerability and adaptation options for the coastal communities of Pakistan [ 23 ], household vulnerability to floods and cyclones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan [ 24 ], district level cyclone vulnerability assessment in Pakistan using geospatial techniques [ 25 ], effects of cyclone Hudhud captured by a high altitude automatic weather station in northwestern Nepal [ 26 ], disaster risk reduction and management in Nepal [ 27 ], assessment of tropical cyclone damage on dry forests using multispectral remote sensing in Mexico [ 28 ], impact of tropical cyclone in China [ 29 ] etc.…”

Multi-Criterion Analysis of Cyclone Risk along the Coast of Tamil Nadu, India—A Geospatial Approach

“…Walsh [38] elucidates the institutional determination to disregard the vulnerability issue in the early warning system during the year 1892, and the study contributes to the existing literature that emphasizes the significance of recognizing the enduring nature of disasters in comprehending the emergence and persistence of vulnerability trajectories over time. Numerous academic articles on vulnerability have underscored the significance of integrating social and economic assets alongside physical and biophysical dimensions of vulnerability to natural hazards [33,34,[39][40][41][42].…”