1864 Machilipatnam cyclone

A tropical cyclone hit the coastal town of Machilipatnam (Masulipatam in old records) on 1st of November 1864 causing heavy casualties and damaging properties.[1][2][3][4][5] A memorial was erected in Machilipatnam to the memory of an estimated 30000 deaths.[1]

History

During October 1864, a tropical cyclone impacted Kolkata leading to loss of life and properties. Few weeks later on 1st of November, another severe cyclone impacted Machilipatnam.[5] The day started with overcast skies and by afternoon it started raining and wind picked speed.[1][6] Coinciding with the high tides resulted in a 13-foot high storm surge that went 17 miles inland devastating everything on its path while receding as well.[6][1] Eye-witness accounts of the night describe the cyclone impact in detail during and after the impact.[5][6] [7][8]

Impact

The village of Gilakaladindi and the English/Dutch fort were heavily impacted that resulted in an estimated death of 30,000 people.[1] The impact was felt up to Vijayawada and Guntur leading to loss of lives.[9][10] After hearing the news of the disaster, the Madras presidency sent rescue boats with relief aid and medical personnel. A vessel named Arabia sent from Madras reached Masulipatam port on 17th November and returned with some of the surviving European and East Indian Company personnel.[6][9]

The East India government started the 'Masulipatam Relief Fund' in order to aid the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of the people impacted by the cyclone.[4] An official report from the health officer mentioned how the inroads of sea water contaminated fresh water wells that triggered diarrhea and fevers. Further the disaster made agriculture lands uncultivable for years and destroyed the vegetation.[4][6][11] Queen of England in her parliament opening speech in 1865 made a mention about the cyclones.[4]

This cyclone along with the 1864 Calcutta cyclone prompted the British East Indian Company to develop a cyclone warning system in India.[12]

Memorial

Manuel Fruvall who lost his brothers' family in the disaster and Thornhill, the then district magistrate of Machilipatnam built a memorial to commemorate the disaster and the loss of lives. This memorial is inside the Catholic burial ground close to Bandar kota in Machilipatnam and it is currently in dilapidated state.

The memorial inscription is reproduced below: [13]

THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATES THE MELANCHOLY FATE OF ANTHONY AND MARIA FRUVALL THEIR SONS JOSEPH, MICHAEL, PETER, MANUEL, AND DANIEL AND THEIR DAUGHTER MARY ΑΝΝ HANNAH AND HER CHILDREN JOSEPH AND GEORGIANNA AND ABOUT 30,000 SOULS WHO WERE ALL UNEXPECTEDLY SWEPT INTO ETERNITY BY THE OCEAN WAVE WHICH DESOLATED THIS TOWN ON THE NIGHT OF THE CYCLONE OF 1st NOVEMBER 1864

MANUEL FRUVALL

ANXIOUS TO PAY A TRIBUTE OF AFFECTION TO THE MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER AND FAMILY AND TO EXPRESS HIS CORDIAL SYMPATHY WITH HIS SURVIVING FELLOW CITIZENS HAS CAUSED THIS PILLAR TO BE ERECTED ON THE VERY SPOT WHERE HIS RELATIVES PERISHED (WHICH FOR YEARS HAD BEEN THEIR HAPPY HOME)

TO PERPETUATE THE REMEMBRANCE OF THIS AWEFUL EVENT, AND TO SERVE AT THE SAME TIME AS A LASTING MEMORIAL,OF THE GRAVEFUL FEELING WITH WHICH HE AND THE ENTIRE POPULATION RECOGNIZE THE UNCEASING AND NOBLE HEARTED EXERTIONS OF THEIR WORTHY.

CHIEF MAGISTRATE C.THORNHILL ESQUIRE

TO CONSOLE THE SURVIVORS AND RELIEVE AS FAR AS HUMAN SUCCOUR COULD AVAIL THE DISTRESS OF THE INHABITANTS

"O YE SEAS AND RIVERS, BLESS THE LORD

PRAISE AND EXALT HIM ABOVE ALL FOR EVER"

DAN 111.78

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mackenzie, Gordon (1883). A manual of the Kistna district, in the presidency of Madras. Lawrence Asylm Press, Madras. p. 119.
  2. ^ "Historical Perspective CWD". rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  3. ^ Edgar Thursion (1913). The Madras Presidency. p. 50.
  4. ^ a b c d Wm H Allen and Co., London (Publisher) (1865). Allen’s Indian Mail and Official Gazette 1865 Jan.-Dec. Volume 23. p. 7,34,48,92,209,231.
  5. ^ a b c Report On The Administration Of The Madras Presidency(1864-65). 1866. pp. 372–420.
  6. ^ a b c d e The Cyclone at Masulipatam. Reprinted, with Additions, from the Madras Observer of December 3, 1864, Etc. 1864.
  7. ^ John Noble (1868). A Memoir of the Rev. Robert Turlington Noble: Missionary to the Telugu People in South India. Harvard University. Seeley, Jackson and Halliday.
  8. ^ Church Missionary Society (1865). 1865 The Church Missionary Gleaner New Series Vol 15. pp. 18–20, 76–78.
  9. ^ a b Annals Of Indian Administration - Vol.10. Marshall D’Cruz, Serampore. 1866. pp. 276–278.
  10. ^ "FRIGHTFUL CYCLONE AT MASULIPATAM". Brisbane Courier. 1865-01-27. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  11. ^ Dickens, Charles (1865). All the year round; from January 28 to July 22 1865. Vol. xiii. University of Buckingham. London: New York, J. M. Emerson & co. pp. 106–109.
  12. ^ Mohapatra, M.; Sharma, M.; Pattanaik, D. R. (2025-01-16). "Evolution of Cyclone Monitoring and Forecasting System in India: A review". MAUSAM. 76 (1). ISSN 0252-9416. Archived from the original on 2025-02-14.
  13. ^ Cotton, Julian James (1905). LIST OF INSCRIPTIONS ON TOMBS OR MONUMENTS IN MADRAS POSSESSING HISTORICAL OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST. Madras: Superintendent Government Press, Madras. pp. 235–236.
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