While mortality has been low, a clearer picture is emerging now of the extent of physical damage Fani left in its wake, especially to critical infrastructure.

The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, said in a statement: “For the district of Puri and parts of Khurda where the electricity infrastructure has been totally devastated, we have the challenge of having to set up the entire electrification afresh.”

The city of Puri, famous for its holy sites and tourist attractions, was hit especially hard by Fani. Media reports said thousands were homeless and the city had completely lost power and communications.

Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar, also suffered considerable damage with reports of blackouts and downed communication lines. At the Bhubaneswar airport, the passenger terminal building was considerably damaged, and the rooftop of the airport traffic control tower was blown away, according to India's Ministry of Civil Aviation.

These reports point to the need for more investment in disaster resilient infrastructure. Constructing resilient infrastructure and retrofitting existing ones can help minimize the disruption of services, lower economic losses, and expedite response and recovery efforts.

“India is a world leader in the promotion of resilient infrastructure. I am confident the authorities will closely assess the damage caused by Fani and integrate its lessons into their reconstruction plans to ensure resilience in the future,” said Ms Hieber Girardet.

In March, the Indian government, along with UNDRR and a number of partners, announced an agreement to establish a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The goal of the CDRI is to transform “how infrastructure is designed, constructed, operated and maintained,” according to India’s National Disaster Management Authority.

It is only by combining the benefits of understanding risk, preparedness, early warning and resilient infrastructure that countries can obtain the full resilience dividend.

Date:

7 May 2019

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (UNDRR AP)

Keywords

Themes:

Capacity Development, Early Warning, Advocacy & Media, Disaster Risk Management

Hazards:

Cyclone

Countries:

Bangladesh, India

Regions:

Asia