Calcutta cyclone, October 1864
- When
- 1864
- Where
- Calcutta, India; East Bengal
- Episodes
- 3
On 5 October 1864, a tropical cyclone struck Calcutta, causing widespread destruction and an estimated death toll exceeding 60,000. The storm crossed the West Bengal coast south of the Hooghly River, impacting the city and surrounding areas. Post-cyclone recovery required rebuilding the city, surrounding areas, and harbors.
Episodes
- Calcutta Cyclone Landfall
The cyclone crossed the coast south of the Hooghly River on 5 October, causing massive destruction.
- Post-landfall Observations
Factory employees observed uprooted trees and destroyed houses at 14:30 UTC on 5 October.
- Cyclone Dissipation
The cyclone moved north-northeast and dissipated inland near East Bengal on 7 October.
Background and detail
Storm Track. The cyclone crossed the East Coast of India to the south of the Hooghly River on 5 October. Prior to landfall, heavy rains and gusty winds affected the shores of Calcutta and nearby East Bengal starting on 4 October. The storm moved north-northeast and dissipated inland near East Bengal on 7 October.
Impact and Recovery. Most areas of Calcutta were inundated and destroyed. At 14:30 UTC on 5 October, observers noted uprooted trees, destroyed kutcha houses, and sunk boats. No other reports of deaths were recorded, but estimates suggest over 60,000 fatalities. The city, surrounding areas, and harbors required rebuilding after the cyclone.
People involved
- Factory employees near the coast of Calcutta · Unnamed collective that went outside to observe the damage (collective_or_institution)
Sources
- 1864 Calcutta cyclone Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-03
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.