Cyclone devastation along Saurashtra coast of Gujarat in November 1982

Abstract

The present article investigates the dreadful effect of a severe cyclonic storm swept through the Gujarat coast on the afternoon of 8th November 1982 in the fishing villages and fishery industry.It describes the districtwise extent of loss and damage to small scale fisheries along Gujarat coast especially in the districts of Amreli and Junagadh and the Union territory of Diu. Madhwad, a fishing village in Amreli district,was the worstly and estimated a total loss of Rs.lO lakhs. Mul-Dwarka, another fishing village in Amreli district estimated loss of Rs.5 lakhs. Union territory of Diu also had severe damage. Almost all the buildings and sheds of fish freezing plants, fish meal factories and dryfish traders were heavily damaged at Veraval with an estimated Rs.l23 lakhs loss to the industry. A number of fish meal factories were damaged and the loss was estimated at 44 lakhs. Dryfish traders lost all their godowns, sheds and dryfish, the loss estimated at Rs.l7 lakhs. For about 15 days immediately after the cyclone, no fish was landed due to suspension of fishing consequent to the cyclone havoc, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs.442 lakhs. After cyclone a decrease in catches were reported.