Summary:
As many as 117 cyclones hit India in 50 years from 1970-2019 claiming over 40000 lives according to a study on extreme weather events which also states the mortality rate due to tropical cyclones has come down significantly over the past 10 years. The study states that the number of deaths due to cyclones has come down significantly in the last two decades whose latter years have witnessed much improvement in the IMD's weather forecast abilities. In 1971 the study said four tropical cyclones developed in the Bay of Bengal within a period of about six weeks — from the end of September to the first week of November. About 10000 people were reported to have lost their lives and more than one million rendered homeless it said. India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the reasons for fatalities during cyclones have changed over the years with improvement in IMD's forecast abilities..