How Odisha Managed the Phailin Disaster

Phailin, the very severe cyclonic storm that struck Odisha on 12 October, would have exacted a high price in terms of human lives along with the trail of destruction it left behind if the state administration had not been able to effectively contain hazards and deal with its aftermath. Accurate weather forecasting, effective planning, and the dedication showed by the administrative machinery helped make it an almost "zero casualty" natural disaster. Given that the super cyclone of 1999 claimed nearly 10,000 lives in Odisha, this was a remarkable achievement.