Image showing the devastating impact of major cyclones in India | Image: AI-Skymet
India’s long and vulnerable coastline has faced the fury of some of the deadliest cyclones in recorded history. The Bay of Bengal, in particular, is one of the most cyclone-prone regions of the world. From the 19th century to modern times, cyclones have left unforgettable scars—some wiping out entire towns, others testing the limits of disaster preparedness.
The Coringa Cyclone, 1839
On 25 November 1839, the bustling harbour city of Coringa in present-day Andhra Pradesh faced annihilation. A massive cyclone struck with such force that the harbour was destroyed, ships were smashed, and rivers overflowed, swallowing croplands and livestock. The storm surge drowned nearly 3,00,000 people, making it the second-deadliest cyclone in recorded history. Coringa never recovered, the once-thriving port city was never rebuilt.
The Calcutta Cyclone, 1864
Twenty-five years later, another deadly storm struck further north. On 5 October 1864, a cyclone swept across Kolkata (then Calcutta), bringing torrential rains and a devastating storm surge from the Hooghly River. Over 60,000 people perished, and large parts of the city were submerged. It was a grim reminder of Bengal’s vulnerability to cyclones.
The Bhola Cyclone, 1970
Though its worst impact was felt in Bangladesh, the Great Bhola Cyclone of November 1970 also ravaged India’s West Bengal coast. With wind speeds of 185 km/h and a massive storm surge, Bhola remains the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, killing between 3,00,000 and 5,00,000 people. Low-lying islands of the Ganges Delta were completely inundated, and the disaster became one of the world’s greatest humanitarian tragedies.
The Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, 1977
On 19 November 1977, a super cyclonic storm slammed into Andhra Pradesh near Nizampatnam with winds crossing 230 km/h. A storm surge up to seven metres high engulfed the Krishna River delta, submerging hundreds of villages. Entire families were lost, with bodies floating in floodwaters and mass pyres lit for the dead. Officially, around 10,000 people perished, but some estimates placed the toll at nearly 50,000. More than 34 lakh people were left homeless.
The Odisha Super Cyclone, 1999
In modern memory, no storm is etched as deeply as the Odisha Super Cyclone. Making landfall near Paradip on 29 October 1999, with winds up to 260 km/h and a record-low pressure of 912 mb, it raked the coast for hours. Villages were flattened, farmlands inundated, and thousands swept away by the storm surge. The official death toll stood at 9,887, though some reports feared the number was much higher. Damages were estimated at over $4 billion, making it one of the most destructive cyclones in Indian history.
Cyclone Phailin, 2013
Fourteen years later, Odisha faced another monster—Cyclone Phailin. With winds of 215 km/h, Phailin was among the strongest storms since 1999. This time, however, preparedness saved lives. India carried out its biggest evacuation in decades, moving more than half a million people to safety. Despite damages worth billions, fatalities were limited to 46. It was a turning point in India’s disaster management.
Cyclone Fani, 2019
On 3 May 2019, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani made landfall near Puri, Odisha, with wind speeds of up to 230 km/h. It tore through Puri and Bhubaneswar, damaging homes, uprooting trees, and even battering heritage sites like the Jagannath Temple. Thanks to large-scale evacuations, fatalities were kept to around 72 in India, though economic losses exceeded ₹120 billion. Fani was the most powerful cyclone to hit Odisha since 1999.
Cyclone Amphan, 2020
Barely a year later, the super cyclone Amphan roared into West Bengal and Odisha in May 2020. Packing winds of 240 km/h at peak intensity, Amphan became the costliest cyclone in the North Indian Ocean, causing damages of over $15 billion. Kolkata witnessed hours of destruction as power lines fell, homes crumbled, and trees blanketed the streets. Around 100 people lost their lives in India despite mass evacuations—a tragic toll, but far lower than past disasters thanks to improved forecasting.
Cyclone Tauktae, 2021
While the Bay of Bengal is usually more cyclone-prone, the Arabian Sea too unleashed its fury in May 2021. Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae battered Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the western coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains. With at least 169 confirmed deaths and billions in damages, Tauktae became the strongest cyclone to strike Gujarat since 1998, and one of the fiercest Arabian Sea cyclones on record.
From the tragedy of Coringa in 1839 to the devastation of Amphan and Tauktae in recent years, India’s cyclone story reveals both vulnerability and resilience. While older cyclones wiped out entire towns, modern systems of early warning, mass evacuation, and disaster preparedness have drastically reduced fatalities. Yet, the economic costs continue to rise, reminding us that cyclones are not just natural events—they are a test of human readiness and adaptation.
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