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India Launches Operation Sadbhav for Typhoon Yagi Aid

Why in the news?

• India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide aid to Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, heavily impacted by Typhoon Yagi.
• Relief materials include dry rations, clothing, medicines, water purification items, and hygiene supplies.
• Indian Navy’s INS Satpura and Indian Air Force transport planes are delivering 55 tonnes of aid.

About Typhoon Yagi’s Devastation:

• Typhoon Yagi is the strongest tropical cyclone in Asia this year.
• It severely impacted Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, with a death toll of 233.
• Floods and landslides have devastated the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.

Climate Change and Cyclones:

• Scientists agree that rising sea temperatures are intensifying tropical cyclones.
• Warmer waters accelerate storms, resulting in stronger winds and more rainfall.
• Climate change is causing storms to form closer to coastlines and last longer over land, intensifying their impact.

About Typhoon:

• Typhoon: A type of tropical cyclone with strong winds and heavy rainfall.
• Different names based on origin:
  • Typhoon: China Sea and Pacific Ocean
  • Hurricane: Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
  • Tornado: West Africa and the U.S.
  • Willy-Willies: Northwestern Australia
  • Tropical Cyclone: Indian Ocean

All these storms are scientifically called tropical cyclones.

• Tropical cyclones: Intense circular storms originating over warm tropical oceans with wind speeds over 119 km/h and heavy rain.
• They rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Formation Factors

• Sea temperature: 27°C or above
• High humidity in the middle troposphere
• Wind speeds: 120 km/h
• Coriolis force to initiate rotation
• Low-pressure area required

Facts about Typhoon Yagi:

• Strongest storm of 2024 in Asia.
• Made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 7, 2024.
• Wind speeds over 200 km/h, later downgraded to a tropical depression.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times