The tropical cyclone Bhola is recognized as one of the most devastating disasters of the modern world. In a single day, the deadly cyclone claimed 500,000 lives. According to scientists, the people could have been saved. So why did the tragedy happen? Not only Bhola. The territory of East Pakistan has a rainy climate, so tropical monsoons are no rare guests here. By 1970, local history counted at least six powerful cyclones. In total, the killer cyclones had claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people. Bhola is far from the most powerful tropical cyclone. But, in the opinion of meteorologists, it is considered the most devastating cyclone in recent history. A «false alarm»? Reports of the approaching cyclone were constantly relayed to the Indian authorities. Unfortunately, all the warnings were perceived by officials as a false alarm and were therefore crudely ignored. This was explained by the fact that two weeks before the tragedy, a small cyclone had already «had its fun» in the Ganges delta. Back then people were evacuated in time, and their property was barely affected. Apparently, the officials reckoned that such a thing does not happen twice, and so there was no point in spending money on yet another evacuation. They were mistaken. Catastrophe. The population was peacefully sleeping when the atmospheric monster struck. A tidal wave 15 metres high crashed down on the defenceless, thatched huts and greedily swallowed up the well-tended rice fields. The flimsy houses were smashed to pieces, and the unfortunate people and animals were swept out into the open sea by the powerful current. They had no chance of survival. Having dealt with the «fishing» coast, the cyclone furiously fell upon the elite homes, hospitals, schools and other municipal buildings. Power lines were destroyed, and communication with the outside world was cut off. That is why the rest of Pakistan learned of the monstrous destruction only two days later. Nightmarish consequences. According to Pakistani radio, there were no survivors on any of the thirteen islands near Chittagong. The cyclone destroyed several large ships in the ports, and the airports in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar were hidden under a metre-deep layer of water for 5 to 7 hours. Some researchers call the aftermath of the cyclone apocalyptic. After the water receded, the land was covered with dead bodies. The people who remained alive, «armed» with long poles, pushed them into the sea. But even this did not help to prevent the outbreak of a cholera epidemic. The dangerous disease swept across the island of Rangabali like a hurricane and claimed hundreds of thousands more lives. Fresh water became unavailable, food stores were destroyed, and the sources of provisions were ruined. Everywhere hung the nightmarish, nauseating stench of decomposing bodies, which seemed to penetrate everywhere. In a matter of hours, this beautiful, cosy place turned into a grim island of death. In all, up to 3.6 million people were affected by the rampage of the elements. A fateful cyclone. This tropical cyclone helped change the map of the state. This happened because the survivors did not mince their words in criticizing the country's authorities. In the people's view, the main cause of the tragedy was not so much a natural as a human factor. In the December elections of that same year, the opposition won. This was followed by a prolonged confrontation, which, unfortunately, provoked the start of military action. The result was the formation of the state of Bangladesh.