Differential Livelihood Impacts of Cyclones Bulbul, Amphan and Yaas: The Role of Landholding in Shaping Vulnerability and Recovery in Kultali CD Block, Indian Sundarban

Cyclone-induced vulnerability is a major threat to livelihood security and socio-economic stability in coastal areas. The Indian Sundarban is especially vulnerable to cyclone-related impacts and has high exposure due to its population pressure, diminishing natural resources, and climate-sensitive livelihood choices. Cyclones have created massive destruction in the physical and socio-economic spheres. This study evaluates the differential impacts of cyclones Bulbul, Amphan, and Yaas, with particular focus on the relationship between livelihood structure and landholding in the Kultali CD block. A mixed-method approach is applied; a total of 550 household surveys and 54 Key informant interviews were conducted across the study area. The cyclone impact categorization-high impact, moderate impact, and low impact- was developed based on socio-economic losses. The descriptive statistics, crosstabulation and Kruskal–Wallis test were conducted to assess the relationship between cyclone-induced livelihood impact and landholding categories. The Kruskal–Wallis test results stated that livelihood vulnerability is different among the occupational groups for these three successive cyclones: Bulbul (H = 43.936, p < 0.001, ε2 = 0.072), Amphan (H = 34.626, p < 0.001, ε2 = 0.054), and Yass (H = 60.918, p < 0.001, ε2 = 0.103). The statistical results showed that cultivator households were found to be most vulnerable to the Bulbul cyclone, and fishing households faced the highest level of livelihood disruption to the Amphan and Yaas cyclones. Interviewed respondents are landless (60.7%), marginal farmers (36.4%) and small farmers (2.9%). Landless households are mostly from wage labour and fishing occupations and have less resilience to livelihood diversification and asset ownership. The statistical figures indicated that livelihood vulnerability is not only defined by cyclone intensity but also by unequal access to asset ownership. The findings suggested that there is a need to integrate a disaster reduction framework that gives special emphasis separately on direct asset exposure and broader socio-economic vulnerability. The disaster reduction policy should incorporate livelihood-specific interventions that provide a resilience pathway in the cyclone-prone coastal regions.