On 31 October 1876, the southern shores of British India, now modern-day Bangladesh, faced one of history’s deadliest natural disasters—the Great Backerganj Cyclone.
The cyclone swept inland from the Bay of Bengal with violent winds and catastrophic tidal waves, devastating villages across the region. Buildings crumbled, trees were uprooted, and thousands were trapped in the wake of rapidly rising waters.
Over 200,000 people perished in this harrowing event, with countless more injured or left homeless. The cyclone’s effects were felt far beyond the immediate destruction as diseases spread, crops were ruined, and the infrastructure left in shambles strained the colonial administration’s capacity to provide relief.
Despite international appeals and humanitarian aid, the scope of the disaster highlighted the stark vulnerabilities of the region’s impoverished populace and underscored the need for improved storm response mechanisms.
