On this day a devastating cyclone had struck Bengal. At least 60,000 people were killed.
The cyclone had crossed the Bengal coast to reach the south of the Hooghly. The river overflowed, washing away everything in its way and flooding the city and surrounding areas. The wave of water reportedly reached a height of 15 feet. Deaths were also reported from several places outside the city, such as Midnapore. Ships were blown ashore; 97 ships were damaged severely.
In Kolkata, 102 “pucka” houses were destroyed, 563 severely damaged and 40,698 huts completely levelled. Many parts of the city and a few harbours had to be rebuilt.
According to James Daniel, who was superintendent of Kaukhali light-house near Contai (now in Purba Medinipur) and witnessed the storm: “It was at this time (10 h. 30 m.) that the storm-wave broke over the place, sweeping everything before it; this continued without any intermission until 3 P.M., when the wind moderated a little and suddenly shifted to the south-west; from this quarter it blew with equal fury till 4 P.M., driving a large quantity of water before it, with human beings and cattle intermingled.”
