1970 Bhola cyclone

The 1970 Bhola cyclone, also known as the Great Cyclone of 1970, was the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded. It struck East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and India's West Bengal on November 12, 1970. The storm caused a huge wave of water, called a storm surge, that flooded many low-lying islands in the Ganges Delta. At least 300,000 people died, and some believe the number may have been as high as 500,000.

The cyclone began over the central Bay of Bengal on November 8 and moved northward, growing stronger each day. By November 10, its winds reached 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour). It hit the coast of East Pakistan the next afternoon. The powerful wave destroyed villages and crops across the region. In one area called Tazumuddin, more than 45% of the people died.

After the storm, the government of Pakistan, led by General Yahya Khan, was criticized for not acting quickly enough to help those affected. This poor response made many people in East Pakistan unhappy. It helped the Awami League win an election a month later and eventually led to the Bangladesh Liberation War seven months after the cyclone.

Meteorological history

On November 1, Tropical Storm Nora formed over the South China Sea in the West Pacific Ocean. It lasted for four days before it weakened and moved west over the Malay Peninsula. This helped create a new storm in the central Bay of Bengal on November 8. The storm grew stronger as it moved north and became a cyclonic storm on November 9. It slowed down near 14°30′N 87°00′E / 14.5°N 87°E / 14.5; 87.

The storm became even stronger on November 11 and started moving northeast. It developed a clear center and reached its strongest point that day, with very fast winds. The cyclone hit the coast of East Pakistan on the evening of November 12, around the time of high tide. After reaching land, the storm began to weaken and soon after turned into a weaker system over southern Assam.

Preparations

There was some confusion about how much weather information was shared between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) because they were not on good terms at the time. Many people were surprised by the storm because the warning system in East Pakistan was not used well. On November 12, the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned people in coastal areas to be careful, and later, a serious danger signal was broadcast on Radio Pakistan. However, many people did not understand what it meant.

After two very harmful cyclones in 1960 that caused many deaths, the government asked American experts for help to make better warning systems. An expert named Gordon Dunn studied the problem and gave his ideas in 1961, but not all of his suggestions were used.

Impact

The coast of the Bay of Bengal is very vulnerable to tropical cyclones. The Bhola cyclone is known as the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded and one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. At least 300,000 people died in the storm, possibly as many as 500,000.

In Bangladesh, strong winds and a very high storm surge caused widespread damage. Many islands were completely destroyed, and millions of people were affected. In India, heavy rain caused flooding and damage, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and West Bengal.

The exact number of deaths remains unknown. Studies after the storm estimated the death toll to be at least 224,000. Many children under age 10 were among those who died, showing they were at higher risk during the storm.

Aftermath

Government response

After the storm hit, Pakistani gunboats and a hospital ship left Chittagong to help the islands of Hatiya, Sandwip, and Kutubdia. Army teams reached many areas within two days. President Yahya Khan visited East Pakistan and admitted the government made some mistakes in helping people after the storm, but he said they did everything they could. He returned to Rawalpindi, and no leaders from West Pakistan visited the affected areas.

In the ten days after the cyclone, the central government assigned one military plane and three crop-dusting planes for relief work. They said they could not send military helicopters from West Pakistan because India would not allow them to fly over Indian territory, a claim India denied. By November 24, the government had provided $116 million for relief efforts. President Khan took charge of relief operations and said there was a lack of understanding about how bad the disaster was. He also said the planned election for December 7 would happen on time, though some areas might have delays.

As tensions grew between East and West Pakistan in March 1971, offices handling relief work were closed for at least two weeks. Relief work continued, but long-term planning was slowed.

Criticism of government response

Leaders in East Pakistan were very unhappy with the government's early response. Eleven politicians said the government showed "gross neglect" and "callous indifference." Students in Dhaka protested the slow response, and large crowds demanded the president's resignation. Leaders in West Pakistan also criticized the president, and some called for him to step down. Reports said relief supplies were not reaching people quickly enough, and survivors were living outdoors with little help.

Political consequences

Because of the poor response to the cyclone, some political groups in both East and West Pakistan refused to take part in the 1970 elections. This helped the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, win most of the votes. The government's slow response increased anger in East Pakistan, leading to more resistance. As tensions grew in March 1971, foreign workers left because they feared violence. The situation got worse and led to further conflict.

International response

India was one of the first countries to help, promising $1.3 million in aid despite tense relations with Pakistan. However, Pakistan would not allow India to send supplies by air, so aid had to travel slowly by road. The United States sent $10 million in aid, including blankets, tents, and food, as well as helicopters and boats to help with supplies. The United Kingdom sent a ship with helicopters and supplies, and Britain raised about £1.5 million for relief efforts.

Canada gave $2 million, France and West Germany sent helicopters and supplies, and Pope Paul VI offered prayers and $100,000 in aid. The United Nations provided $2.1 million in food and cash and helped repair water supplies. By the start of December, nearly $40 million had been raised from 41 countries and organizations.

Post-disaster

After the cyclone, the League of Red Cross Societies made plans to help other countries faced with similar disasters. The United Nations also agreed to improve its ability to give aid quickly. In 1972, a Cyclone Preparedness Programme was started to warn people about coming storms and train workers to help during emergencies. Over 200 cyclone shelters were built in Bangladesh in the years after 1970. When another big cyclone hit in 1991, many people were able to escape to shelters, which saved many lives compared to the 1970 storm.

In books

The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian tells the story of how the leader Yayhia Khan did not help after the Bhola cyclone. This lack of help helped start the war for Bangladesh in 1971.