Cyclone Amphan

Overview

Super Cyclone Amphan made landfall on May 20, 2020, near the Sundarbans in West Bengal, India, with sustained winds of 170 km/h, making it the strongest cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since 1999. The storm caused catastrophic damage across the Indian state of West Bengal and southwestern Bangladesh. In Kolkata, the cyclone uprooted thousands of trees, collapsed buildings, and caused widespread flooding. Over 100 people were killed and approximately 18 million people affected across both countries. Damage estimates exceeded $13 billion, making it the costliest cyclone on record in the Indian Ocean basin. The disaster response was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced evacuation shelters to operate at reduced capacity and required pandemic protocols during relief operations.