1737 Calcutta cyclone
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| Formed | October 9, 1737 (Gregorian calendar) September 26, 1737 (Julian calendar) |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 13, 1737 (Gregorian calendar) September 30, 1737 (Julian calendar) |
| Fatalities | 3,000+ |
| Areas affected | India |
| Part of the 1737 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
The 1737 Calcutta cyclone, also referred to as Hooghly River cyclone of 1737 and Great Bengal cyclone of 1737, was a tropical cyclone of South Bengal that is regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of India. It hit the coast near Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) on 11 October, 1737 and presumably killed over 300,000 people inland and sea, as well as causing widespread and catastrophic damage throughout its path. The cyclone made landfall over the Ganges River Delta, just southwest of Calcutta on the morning of October 11. The deaths were mainly from storm surge and happened on the sea, respectively. Many ships sank in the Bay of Bengal and an unknown number of livestock and wild animals were also reported dead due to the effects of the cyclone. Overall, it caused a large impact on the area and many were killed. The damages were described as "extensive" but the numerical amounts were unknown.
However, a recent report found that a misleading version of a report with no original mention of a number circulated the casualty figure. The only estimated deaths in the affected area were 3,000 at that time. This version also led to confusion and doubt that the deaths were mainly from an earthquake while the storm is battering Calcutta; however, more prolific studies about the storm showed that the fatalities were from the cyclone and its associated storm surge.
Meteorological history
Based on observations from inland that the tidal effects from the cyclone were felt, as far as 130 kilometers inland south-southwest of Calcutta, the storm likely formed near the coast of Burma, which is also from the observations of some ships passing near the area.[1] It presumably moved to the northwest, before turning northward, paralleling the coast of Calcutta between October 10 and 11.[1] At that time, the cyclone started to slow down before turning north-northeastwards, making landfall over the Ganges River Delta, just south of Calcutta.[2] It slowed down while traversing the West Bengal, entering the modern-day Bangladesh on or by October 13 before being last noted that day, far to the north of Dacca.[1]
The track
Some researchers in the India Meteorological Department conducted a study about the track of the storm, finding some similar storms that passed on or near Calcutta to cause similar damage and same date when they passed.[1] The 1864 Calcutta cyclone is an example they used, as the storm also caused similar aftermath to the area, nearly 127 years before.[1] The full brunt of the 1864 storm was felt at Calcutta from 10 pm to 4 am (IST) on October 4 and 5 (14:30 pm to 20:30 pm, UTC).[1] Meanwhile, the storm started to brush the coast of the area at "the night of October 11 and 12", presumably between the same time of the 1864 storm but using the date of the 1737 storm.[1] The researchers then adjusted the landfall time of the 1737 storm to match the time where the residents inland experienced the fury of the storm.[1]
Impact
The cyclone is regarded as the one of the worst natural disasters in the history of India, since reliable records began.[1]
The reported rain accumulation on the Ganges was estimated at 381 mm (15 in) in six hours.[3] In his official report, Thomas Joshua Moore, the British East India Company duties collector, said that almost all the thatched buildings have been destroyed by the storm and flood.[3] An estimated 3,000 inhabitants of the town have been killed.[3] An earthquake and a storm surge, which caused the destruction of 20,000 ships in the harbor and 300,000 people being killed, were other reports of some merchant ships.[3]
Golgotta, a port by the Americans in Calcutta, reported significant destruction.[3] Houses located near or on the harbor were destroyed and the church on the area, dubbed as the "St. Anne’s Church" sustained large damage and further collapsed.[3] Over 20,000 ships, barks, sloops, boats, canoes, and other marine infrastructures were destroyed and washed out, respectively.[3] Many cattle, tigers, and rhinoceros were drowned due to a storm surge with an estimated height of 10–13 meters (or 30–40 feet) that was influenced by the storm and the "earthquake".[3] Many crocodiles were also stifled by the strong currents from the rising rivers and birds were pushed down into the river, drowning them in the process due to strong winds.[3] Two 500-ton large ships were thrown by large waves in a populated village, which further broke into pieces.[3] Many people and cattle were killed.[3] Two more ships of 60 tons were wrecked and found over the high grounds, destroying large trees.[3] Eight out of nine ships were lost in the Ganges River and most of the crews of these ships drowned in the high seas.[3] Three out of four Dutch ships also sank in the Ganges River and Bay of Bengal, respectively.[3] The spire of the Gvoindaram temple were also destroyed due to strong winds from the cyclone.[4]
The damages were described as "extensive", but no numerical amounts existed.[3] The total deaths were estimated at 300,000 individuals per some books; however, despite the recorded deaths, the estimated population of Calcutta was less than 20,000 based on population estimates and counting of 10,000 to 12,000 between 1705 and 1720, respectively.[1] Although there seems to be little evidence for the popular figure of 300,000 deaths or for the existence of an earthquake at all, this is the number that shows up in popular literature.[3] At the same time, the figure of 3,000 is only an estimation of the number of deaths inside the city itself.[3]
However, another report on the cyclone in 1996 found that the death figures circulated in an erroneous version of the report with no previous reference to a number.[1] This version also resulted in a sense of confusion and doubt that deaths were caused primarily by an earthquake during the storm.[1] More deep studies on the storm showed that the death toll was caused by the said cyclone and its related storm surge.[1]
During the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan on Kolkata, many individuals, including Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee compared the massive catastrophe of the storm to this cyclone due to its similar effects and impact.[4]
See also
- 1864 Calcutta cyclone - a deadly tropical cyclone that devastated the same area, nearly 130 years before.
- 1970 Bhola cyclone - the deadliest tropical cyclone worldwide.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sen Sarma, A.K (1996). Reconstructing the Great Bengal Cyclone of 1737 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 47. West Bengal. pp. 67–72. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ "In the Line of Cyclones: Worst Bengal cyclones since 1737". Get Bengal. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bilham, Roger (1994). The 1737 Calcutta Earthquake and Cyclone evaluated (PDF) (Report). Boulder, Colorado. pp. 1–10. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ a b Mohapatra, Samhati (2020-05-22). "Amphan's fury conjures up memories of 1737 Bengal cyclone". The Federal. Retrieved 2021-05-03.