Demystifying Impacts of Cyclone Amphan 2019 Amid COVID-19 Pandemic in West Bengal, India

Amphan was the strongest cyclone to hit the Indian coast nearly two decades after the Odisha Super Cyclone of 1999. The cyclone affected many countries of the Indian Ocean region and shadowed its peril on several Indian states. The eastern state of West Bengal was worst affected by the cyclone, and it caused severe damages to lives and property. Several districts of West Bengal were severely affected by the cyclone; millions of people were displaced; physical and social infrastructure were affected. The cyclone had hit the state when the world was already reeling under the pressure of COVID-19. The impact of Amphan was magnified several folds due to the COVID-19 situation in the state. This paper presents the impact of Amphan on West Bengal and exemplifies the steps taken by response agencies in managing this mega-emergency situation. The institutional mechanism and frameworks for managing disasters in India are also discussed in the context of state-level functions.