Living with Recurrent Cyclones: Spatial Change, Cumulative hazards and
Historical Experience of Coastal West Bengal

Ekanki Pathak

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i09.011

Title: Living with Recurrent Cyclones: Spatial Change, Cumulative hazards and Historical Experience of Coastal West Bengal
Authors: Ekanki Pathak
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 9 Publication Date: September 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i09.011
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Ekanki Pathak Research Scholar, India
MLA 8 Pathak, Ekanki. "Living with Recurrent Cyclones: Spatial Change, Cumulative hazards and Historical Experience of Coastal West Bengal." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 9, Sept. 2026, pp. 4633-4646, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i09.011. Accessed Sept. 2026. APA 6 Pathak, E. (2026, September). Living with Recurrent Cyclones: Spatial Change, Cumulative hazards and Historical Experience of Coastal West Bengal. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(9), 4633-4646. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i09.011 Chicago Pathak, Ekanki. "Living with Recurrent Cyclones: Spatial Change, Cumulative hazards and Historical Experience of Coastal West Bengal." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 9 (September 2026), 4633-4646. Accessed September, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i09.011.
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ABSTRACT: There is considerable spatial variation in major consequences to cyclones along the Indian coast, arising due to the interaction between recurring hydro-meteorological risks and socioeconomic and infrastructural damages. In this paper, we analyze changes in the risk associated with cyclones in 99 coastal districts of India between 2012 and 2023, specifically focusing on coastal West Bengal. District-level hazard indices based on the factors of cyclone frequency, occurrence of intense cyclones, peak winds, maximum possible storm surge, and extremes in precipitation were analyzed through equal interval classification and transition matrices. The above-mentioned data are discussed within the context of historical analysis of coastal West Bengal for the years 1991-2021. Findings reveal a national increase in the hazard proneness caused by cyclones, where 37 districts moved to a higher level of hazard, while 61 did not change their positions at all. Intra-regional inequalities are evident in West Bengal, which includes districts like Howrah, Kolkata, and North 24 Parganas moving from a Moderate to a High level of hazard risk, Purba Medinipur escalating from a Very High to Extremely High cyclone risk, while South 24 Parganas, maintaining Extremely High levels, holds the highest total score among all other districts in 2023. Analysis of historical data shows that recurring cyclones have a cyclical effect on communities due to systematic destruction of housing and livelihoods, embankment breach, forced displacement, paralysis of infrastructure, and unequal recovery patterns after the disaster.

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