Cyclone vulnerability zonation of southern part of South Andaman, India using Multi-criteria weighted overlay analysis techniques

Abstract

Cyclones are one of the major natural hazards which frequently batter Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). Cyclone ‘Lehar’ made its first landfall south of Port Blair, ANI, early on 25th November 2013. Hence an attempt was made to demarcate flood vulnerable zone due to cyclone, at the outset of cyclone ‘Lehar’ which can facilitate the district administration involved in disaster mitigation and management in confronting any disaster of similar kind in future using geospatial technology. Four parameters viz., Land use and land cover (LULC), geomorphology, slope and demographic data were used as input for demarcating cyclone vulnerability zones. The present study revealed that 14.49%, 44.34% and 23.86% of the coastline is in the high, moderate and low vulnerable category respectively.