On March 31, 2024, a devastating tornado hit the Mainaguri area of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, causing casualties and significant damage.
Casualties and Damage
- The tornado lasted approximately 10 minutes, resulting in the loss of five lives and leaving over a hundred injured.
Factors Contributing to Tornado Occurrence
- Changing Climate Patterns: Increasing occurrences of tornadoes in India attributed to warming Bay of Bengal and anomalous wind patterns.
- Definition of Tornado: A tornado is a land-based vertical column of violently rotating air originating from a thunderstorm, capable of reaching wind speeds between 105-322 kilometers per hour.
Tornado Occurrences in India
- Geographical Spread: Primarily reported in eastern states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand during the pre-monsoon period, with some instances in northwest India.
- Historical Records: India Meteorological Department (IMD) documented tornado occurrences, notably in eastern and northwest India, indicating a historical trend.
Monitoring and Prediction
- Lack of Official Monitoring: Unlike countries like the United States, India lacks official monitoring systems for tornadoes.
- Cyclonic Circulation and Weather Patterns: Tornado occurrences often associated with specific weather patterns such as cyclonic circulations and troughs.
Expert Insights
- Causes: Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist, suggests that tornadoes result from the collision of warm, moist air with dry, cool air in the presence of a low-pressure system like a trough.
- Impact of Changing Winds: Anomalous wind patterns, along with warm ocean and land, contribute to the formation and intensification of tornadoes in India.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- When did the tornado strike the Mainaguri area of Jalpaiguri district?
- A) March 31, 2022
- B) March 31, 2023
- C) March 31, 2024
- D) March 31, 2025
- Answer: C) March 31, 2024
- What is the primary reason behind the increasing occurrences of tornadoes in India?
- A) Warming Arctic region
- B) Warming Bay of Bengal and anomalous wind patterns
- C) Decreasing ocean temperatures
- D) Weakening of atmospheric pressure
- Answer: B) Warming Bay of Bengal and anomalous wind patterns
- In which region of India have tornadoes been predominantly reported during the pre-monsoon period?
- A) Northern states
- B) Southern states
- C) Eastern states
- D) Western states
- Answer: C) Eastern states
- How are tornadoes monitored in the United States?
- A) By India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- B) Through official government agencies
- C) By meteorologists at NWS using satellite and radar data
- D) By local community organizations
- Answer: C) By meteorologists at NWS using satellite and radar data