 Satellite image of the storm near landfall | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 7, 1995 |
| Dissipated | November 11, 1995 |
| Very severe cyclonic storm | |
| 3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
| Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 978 hPa (mbar); 28.88 inHg |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 130 km/h (80 mph) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 236 overall |
| Damage | $46.3 million (1995 USD) |
| Areas affected | India, Bangladesh, Nepal |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1995 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
The 1995 India cyclone was a tropical cyclone that struck southeastern India which later spawned a rare snowstorm in Nepal, triggering the deadliest mountain trekking incident in the country's history in November 1995. The storm originated from the monsoon trough on November 7 in the Bay of Bengal, east of India, becoming the penultimate storm of the 1995 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Moving northwestward, the system gradually intensified while moving toward land, eventually developing an eye in the middle of the convection. Reaching peak winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a very severe cyclonic storm on November 8,[nb 1] in line with intensity estimates from the American-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).[nb 2] On November 9, the cyclone made landfall near the border of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. A typical for most November storms, the system continued to the north and dissipated over Nepal on November 11.
In India, the cyclone's strong winds were accompanied by heavy rainfall and a storm surge of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) that inundated the coastline several hundred feet inland. Power lines, crops, and houses were damaged, and many boats were damaged, causing several nautical fatalities. The cyclone killed at least 128 people in India, with hundreds remaining unaccounted for, and damage was estimated at RS$1.1 billion (US$32.2 million). In neighboring Bangladesh, high waves killed 45 people after sinking or sweeping away four ships. The cyclone later spawned a rare November snowstorm across eastern Nepal, with depths reaching 2,000 mm (79 in). The snowfall occurred without warning amid the busy mountain trekking season, and there were several avalanches and landslides across the country. One such incident killed 24 people at a lodge near Gokyo, and there were 63 deaths related to the cyclone in the country. The Nepal government launched the largest search and rescue mission in the country's history, rescuing 450 people, some of whom trapped for days in the snow.
- ^ RSMC New Delhi. "Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) – Tropical Cyclones, New Delhi" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2011). "Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement". United States Navy, United States Airforce. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
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