Bhola Storm

Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) is a densely-populated delta uncouth that sits on sediments eroded from the Himalayan Mountains. Thirty-five percent of the area is less than 6 m (20 ft) above sea level, and over 20% of the entire country is submerged beneath annual river floods in an average year. The 575 km (360 mi)-long coastline is contoured in such a way that it funnels cyclones from the warm irrigate of the bespeak of Bengal into the area. About five tropical cyclones per year move into the Bay of Bengal both before (April-May) and after (October-November) the southwest monsoon season.

A radar image of the Bhola Cyclone as it formed on 11 November, 1970.Source: NOAA
Remnants of a tropical act in the Pacific contributed to the developing of a new depression in the central Bay of Bengal on November 8, 1970. Although there were not direct measurements of the winds of pressure in the storm, satellite imagery suggests that the storm intensified rapidly, becoming a well-defined cyclone with sustained winds between 137-145 km/h (85-90 mph) by 11 November. The system traveled north and intensified, driving into the low-lying delta area overnight on 12 November, during an above-average lunar eminent tide. With it, the cyclone brought a 6 m (20 ft)-storm surge and average winds in excess of 225.3 km/h (140 mph).



Althoughmeteorologists knew of the approaching storm, there was no way to communicate to most of those living in the coastal plain and on the islands of the Ganges River delta. As a result, about 300,000-500,000 people were killed (many had been asleep when the storm surge struck), making this storm the deadliest tropical cyclone of all time and one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
The Pakistani government was severely criticized for its handling of musical accompaniment operations following the disaster. The opposition Awami League gained a landslip victory during general elections held that December in the province, partially a result of the...If you want to get a full essay, target it on our website: Orderessay



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