More than 50 years ago, one of the deadliest tropical storms in history swept through South Asia. In just one day, half a million people lost their lives.
On November 12, 1970, 18-year-old Mohammad Abdul Hai was out at sea fishing with his uncles and cousins, and they managed to return home to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) with a large catch just before the winds picked up and dark clouds loomed.
Aerial view of the devastation caused by Cyclone Bhola in 1970. (Photo: Getty).
Manpura Island, the hometown of Mohammad, frequently faces some of the worst storms in history. Almost every year, residents endure a direct hit from a storm or at least the threat of one.
After getting home, Mohammad turned on the radio for news updates. There had been several warnings over the past few days about a storm approaching Manpura. These alerts were no different from warnings received before 5-6 previous storms.
However, Mohammad remained cautious. When his father left home to collect his salary, the 18-year-old followed the advice his father always gave when the winds picked up.
Mohammad was fortunate to live in a two-story brick house, a rarity in the impoverished community of Manpura. He brought all the members of his extended family, who were living in rickety huts, into his home. About 20 people, including Mohammad’s family, took shelter there. He then herded the chickens and goats into their pen.
Mohammad also noticed that the ground in the yard had become softer, indicating that the groundwater was rising.
During dinner, family members noticed something unusual – the neighbor’s dogs were barking incessantly. It seemed that not just the dogs but all pets were reacting strangely. Mohammad’s uncle suggested that perhaps God was sending a message, and the family began to discuss it.
On the radio, a new storm warning was issued. The announcer repeatedly stated “Red 4, Red 4”. No one in Manpura understood what that meant. The announcer provided no explanations or instructions on what to do next. A second warning simply said: “Great danger is approaching.” Mohammad’s family, like most people on the island, decided not to evacuate.
What the residents of Manpura did not know was that “Red 4” originated from the American warning system, which assesses storms on a scale from 1 to 4. This system indicated that Red 4 meant:“Red alert. Catastrophic destruction is imminent. Seek higher ground immediately”. Many islands in East Pakistan still used the old 10-point warning scale. This mixed bag of systems and ratings led to confusion among the people.
Everyone in Mohammad’s house was nonchalant, thinking that a rating of 4 was certainly less severe than a 10. They continued eating dinner in what was considered a sturdy house in Manpura at the time.
Livestock casualties during Cyclone Bhola. (Photo: Getty).
That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Mohammad was jolted awake by the sound of a tin sheet falling onto the livestock pen. It was around 10 PM, and the rain was pouring down.
The sounds of the livestock outside made it impossible for Mohammad to stay put in the house. He went to check on the animals and hurriedly nailed down wooden boards and patched the windows with tarps.
Family members also couldn’t sleep. They gathered downstairs and prayed together.
At midnight, as Cyclone Bhola made landfall in East Pakistan at its peak intensity, Mohammad’s family heard water lapping against the side of their house. “This can’t be happening,” the 18-year-old thought. Their house was nearly 1 km from the shore. “Could there be something wrong with my hearing?” Mohammad wondered silently.
Ten seconds later, Mohammad’s family heard another splash. Then, a few seconds later, another one. Everyone looked around, their faces filled with confusion. What was going on? Mohammad rushed to a boarded-up window and peered through a gap. His eyes widened in horror.
The seawater had risen and was flooding their doorstep. Mohammad quickly urged his family to head to the second floor. Most residents of Manpura did not have the opportunity that Mohammad’s family had, as they lived in thatched huts or temporary mud houses.
Seawater quickly surged in and continued to rise. In a desperate situation where the water had reached the second floor of the house, Mohammad had a bold idea.
The best chance for survival lay in the yard outside the house. A palm tree there had withstood many storms. However, to reach the tree, Mohammad had to jump down and swim in the heavy rain and strong winds. When he successfully jumped, Mohammad crashed into the tree and yelled for his family to follow. But there was no response, and the 18-year-old continued to shout.
Survivors in East Pakistan recover from the aftermath of Cyclone Bhola. (Photo: Getty).
For over an hour, Mohammad clung to the palm tree. Suddenly, the rain stopped. In just a few seconds, the chaotic night turned into an unusually quiet calm.
Manpura was in the eye of the storm. The young man’s house was dark and eerily silent, with seawater having risen to head level on the second floor. There was no response from family members because most of them had drowned while nearly 20 people were crammed into a space meant for only 4-5 people.
As the winds picked up again, Mohammad held tightly to the palm tree. Hours passed, and his arms and legs were scraped by the rough bark. Finally, by the next morning, the water receded. In total, about 40,000 of the 50,000 residents of Manpura perished.
Cyclone Bhola struck the coast of East Pakistan with winds exceeding 200 km/h, coinciding with a rising tide, and waves reaching 10 meters, sweeping through densely populated low-lying areas, resulting in significant casualties.
According to 9News, the death toll from Cyclone Bhola is estimated to be between 500,000 and 600,000 people. The storm caused property damage estimated at $490 million. Approximately 85% of homes in the area were destroyed or severely damaged, with the greatest devastation along the coast.
According to Hindustan Times, the aftermath of Cyclone Bhola later caused a civil war and ultimately led to foreign military intervention and the secession of East Pakistan into what is now Bangladesh.
The political leaders of East Pakistan were extremely angered by the Pakistani government’s indifference toward recovery efforts after the storm.
Many analysts argue that: “We should recognize that Cyclone Bhola caused political instability and subsequent secession.”
They claim that Bhola “accelerated the existing tensions” of the socio-political and economic issues occurring in East Pakistan. Although the 1970 storm did not change the political structure of East Pakistan, it did intensify calls for autonomy from the region.
In March 1971, East Pakistan declared independence from Pakistan, leading to a civil war. After nine months, the Pakistan Civil War ended. East Pakistan was recognized as independent and renamed the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
This dramatic change serves as a stark reminder of the profound social and political disruption that can arise from natural disasters.
