About the Atlas:

• The Atlas has been developed by the scientists at the Climate Research and Services (CRS) office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune. The atlas has used the Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and provides district maps on hazard events and vulnerability.
• The atlas will have two uses:
  • It will act as a reference for impact-based warnings that IMD issue for various regions;
  • It can be used to plan climate-resilient infrastructure.

Key findings of the Atlas

• Most Impacted by Cyclones: West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district is most frequently impacted by cyclones among Indian districts. The return period of cyclonic storms in the district was 1.67 years on a scale of 1.5 to 60 years. Shorter return periods indicate more frequent cyclones.
• Cyclone Vulnerability: Purba Medinipur in West Bengal had the highest cyclone vulnerability in the country for cyclones of all intensities.
• Baleshwar in Orissa topped the list in terms of vulnerability to severe cyclonic storms. South 24 Parganas was the second-most vulnerable to all cyclones, and ranked third in terms of severe cyclonic storms.
• Other key Findings: Around 4% of the districts and 7% of the population in India are highly vulnerable to cyclones. Most of the coastal districts of the East Coast are highly vulnerable to cyclones.

Source: EPIC February 2022