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Coringa, also known as Korangi,[1] is a coastal village in Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It consists of the village and the adjacent Hope Island, which was named by British officials in the hope that it would be protected from environmental disasters.
Coringa
Korangi | |
|---|---|
.svg)  Coringa Location in Andhra Pradesh, India  Coringa Coringa (India) | |
| Coordinates: 16°48′N 82°14′E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | East Godavari |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | IST |
| Vehicle registration | AP |
| Nearest city | Kakinada |
| Climate | Average temperatures range from 76-90 °F, with annual rainfall between 34 and 64 inches. |
Once a thriving port city, Coringa was a trade hub on the Bay of Bengal in the 18th and 19th century. It hosted thousands of ships annually, with a large population.[2] However, two devastating cyclones, one in 1789 and another in 1839, caused significant damage, leading to its decline. Historically, Coringa was a key migration point, with people from various parts of Andhra travelling through its seaport to countries like Burma and Malaysia, where they were called "Coranghees," after the port of Coringa.[3][4]
In 1759, the British established a shipbuilding and repair facility at Coringa, located on the Coringa River, a branch of the Godavari River.[5] By 1802, Coringa had become a significant seaport with a dry dock for ship repairs, which was the only one between Bombay and Calcutta.[6] Its shipbuilding industry was recognized internationally, and Coringa was a vital maritime location.
However, Coringa's coastal position made it vulnerable to frequent storms. In 1784, a sea rise caused vessels to drift inland as far as Rajahmundry.[6] The town suffered significant damage from several cyclones, including the Great Coringa Cyclone of 1789, which claimed 20,000 lives, and a further storm in May 1832.[7][8]
The most devastating was the cyclone of 25 November 1839, with a 40-foot storm surge that obliterated Coringa’s port and destroyed over 20,000 ships. The event was one of the first to be cited by Henry Piddington, who coined the term "cyclone" to describe such phenomena.[9][10][11] This cyclone killed around 300,000 people overall and caused the complete destruction of the port.[2]
After the 1839 disaster, the port was never fully rebuilt, and by the 1870s, it was only able to service small vessels. Despite the decline, Coringa maintained some trade, particularly with Moulmein and Rangoon.[3] By 1901, silting rendered the port inaccessible to large ships, and by 1905, shipbuilding activities ceased.[12]
The 1789 Cyclone
The Great Coringa Cyclone struck in December 1789, causing severe damage with a series of three massive storm surges.[2] The first wave drove ships ashore, and subsequent waves washed away everything that survived, killing at least 20,000 people. The effects of the cyclone reached as far as Rajahmundry to the northeast. The event was recorded in colonial and maritime records, marking a turning point in Coringa's maritime significance. After the cyclone, Coringa never regained its former prominence as a port. It served as a cautionary tale for future cyclone preparedness, especially in the Bay of Bengal region.[2][7]
The 1839 Cyclone
On 25 November 1839, a major cyclone with a massive 40-foot storm surge ravaged Coringa.[2] The surge obliterated the port, sinking over 20,000 ships and causing a death toll estimated at around 300,000. This cyclone was notable as one of the first to be recorded in meteorological history and led to the first usage of the term "cyclone" by Henry Piddington. The destruction from the storm led to the decline of Coringa as a port and a significant loss to the Indian Ocean shipping industry.[13]
Coringa is located at the junction of the Godavari River and the Bay of Bengal.[2] The region is low-lying and prone to flooding, particularly during the cyclone season, when heavy rain and high winds can cause major damage to the infrastructure. The surrounding area has mangrove forests, which serve as a buffer to mitigate the effects of storms.
Historically, Coringa was known for its shipbuilding industry and its port facilities, which facilitated significant trade.[3] Though the port no longer operates at the scale it once did, the village continues to rely on small-scale fishing and agriculture. The region's mangroves, which provide a rich habitat for biodiversity, have been protected as part of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.
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