The Great Backerganj Cyclone of 1876 (29 October – 1 November 1876) was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in history. It hit the coast of Backerganj, Bengal Presidency, British India (near Meghna estuary in present-day Barisal, Bangladesh), killing about 200,000 people, half of whom were drowned by the storm surge, while the rest died from the subsequent famine.

Meteorological history

The cyclone formed over the SE Bay of Bengal as a depression near 10.0°N and 89.0°E on 27 October, intensified into a cyclonic storm near 15.0°N and 89.0°E on 30 October and subsequently intensified into a severe cyclonic storm with a core of hurricane winds. The cyclone moved north up to the North Bay and then NNE. On 31 October, the cyclone made landfall on Backerganj. The maximum wind speed was estimated at 220 km/h and the surge height was 3 - 13.6 m.