A. Mawsynram |
3. Stalagmite caves |
B. Assam |
2. Houses on stilts |
C. Andhra Pradesh |
1. Tropical cyclones |
D. West Bengal |
4. Kaal Baisakhi |
Mawjymbuin Cave is one of the well known caves in Mawsynram, Meghalaya. This cave, due to years of weathering, dripping of mineralised solutions and deposition of calcium carbonate, has given rise to magnificient stalagmites. Inside this cave is a pair of notable speleothems - breast-shaped stalactite over a massive stalagmite.
Houses in Assam are built on stilts because the state receives abundant rainfall due to which there are chances of floods. In case of flood the water might get inside the houses, if the houses are built on ground level, so in order to avoid flooding of houses, houses are built on stilts and above ground level.
Andhra Pradesh is extremely vulnerable to cyclones, storm surges and floods. The deadliest cyclone in the past 40 years was the one that struck Andhra's coast in November 1977, killing about 10,000 people. According to the State Disaster Mangement Department, about 44 per cent of the state is vulnerable to tropical storms and related disasters. Vulnerability to storm surges is not uniform along the coast of Andhra. The stretch between Nizampatnam in Guntur district and Machilipatnam in Krishna district is the most prone to storm surges.
During the hot weather period i.e from March to May the eastern and north-eastern states of the subcontinent like West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa (parts) and Bangladesh experience dramatic appearance of a special type of violent thunderstorm know as Nor'wester. It is known as 'Kaal Baisakhi' or calamity of the month of Baisakh (15th April to 15th May).