“I think that was Remal, no?”
“No, no. That was Bulbul.”
“But Fani was something else entirely.”
“And you’ve forgotten Mocha.”
In a quiet room in Kolkata, names are exchanged with the kind of intimate familiarity usually reserved for childhood friends or distant relatives. There is affectionate correction, a collective remembering of dates, and a shared reverence for the past. However, these names—Remal, Amphan, Bulbul, Fani, Mocha—do not belong to people. They belong to the monsters of the Bay of Bengal: the cyclones that have battered the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh over the last decade.
For the eight members of the Kolkata Cloud Chasers (KCC), these are not just headlines or statistics found in government disaster reports. They are personal encounters. While the rest of the world retreats indoors at the first crack of thunder, this eclectic group of professionals fuels their vehicles and drives directly into the eye of the storm.
I. Main Facts: The Anatomy of an Extreme Weather Group
The Kolkata Cloud Chasers is a specialized extreme weather photography and meteorological observation group based in West Bengal, India. Comprised of eight members from diverse professional backgrounds, the group has spent the last 12 years documenting the atmospheric volatility of the region.
The group’s primary focus is the documentation of three specific meteorological phenomena:
- Tropical Cyclones: Large-scale systems like Amphan and Remal that originate in the Bay of Bengal.
- Kalbaisakhis (Nor’westers): Violent summer tempests that originate over the Chhotanagpur Plateau and sweep across Bengal.
- Squall Lines and Lightning: Intense, localized electrical storms that define the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons.
What distinguishes KCC from hobbyist photographers is their integrated approach. Their work is a hybrid of high-end digital photography, real-time meteorological tracking, and field data collection. They operate a specialized vehicle known as the Storm and Cloud-chasing Four-Wheeler (SCIF), equipped with recovery gear including winches, tow straps, and sand ladders to navigate the treacherous, mud-slicked terrains of rural Bengal.
Despite the high costs associated with their equipment and expeditions, the group operates on a strictly non-monetized basis. They do not sell their data or photographs for profit, maintaining that the introduction of a commercial element would "dilute the passion" that drives their pursuit.
II. Chronology: From Orkut Communities to Real-Time Tracking
The genesis of the Kolkata Cloud Chasers can be traced back to 2009, an era when social media was in its infancy in India. The founding members first connected through the Kolkata Photographer’s Club, a community of approximately 2,500 enthusiasts on the now-defunct platform, Orkut.
- 2009–2012: The Foundational Years. The group began as a subset of photographers fascinated by the dramatic skies of Bengal. The arrival of the first Android smartphones in 2009 was the primary catalyst for their evolution. For the first time, satellite imagery and rudimentary weather applications like AccuWeather and The Weather Channel were accessible in the field.
- March 24, 2014: The Birth of KCC. A dedicated WhatsApp group was formed, marking the official transition from a loose collection of hobbyists to a coordinated team. This allowed for the instantaneous sharing of radar data and "spotter" reports.
- 2014–2019: Technical Sophistication. As weather modeling technology improved, the group moved beyond simple photography. They began studying atmospheric science, learning to interpret wind shear, CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values, and dew point trajectories.
- 2020–Present: The Era of Super Cyclones. The group’s resilience was tested by a series of high-intensity events, including Cyclone Amphan (2020), which saw the team documenting unprecedented wind speeds and urban devastation, and more recently, Cyclone Remal (2024).
III. Supporting Data: The Science and Strategy of the Chase
Storm chasing in the Indian subcontinent is fundamentally different from the "Tornado Alley" chases of the United States. The humidity, population density, and unpredictable terrain of West Bengal present unique challenges.
The Bardhaman Strategy
Through years of trial and error, KCC has identified Bardhaman as their primary strategic "intercept point." Located approximately 100 kilometers from Kolkata, Bardhaman serves as a gateway. From this central hub, the team can pivot in four directions:
- West: Toward Bankura and Purulia to intercept Kalbaisakhis as they descend from the Jharkhand plateau.
- Northwest: Toward Durgapur and Asansol.
- South: Toward the coastal belts of East Midnapore and the Sundarbans for cyclonic landfalls.
The Data Lag Challenge
One of the most critical pieces of data the team manages is the "radar lag." Chirasree Chakraborty, a primary storm tracker for the group, notes that the satellite and radar data available to the public is often 10 to 15 minutes old.
“In the world of a fast-moving squall line, ten minutes is an eternity,” she explains. “The storm we see on the screen has already moved or intensified. Our role as navigators is to estimate where the storm will be, not where it was.”
The Team Composition
The group’s success relies on a highly specialized division of labor:
- Navigators: Debarshi Duttagupta (a pharmaceutical professional) and Joyjeet Mukherjee (a debt recovery expert) handle route mapping.
- Data Specialists: Suman Kumar Ghosh (an engineer) analyzes wind data and trajectories.
- Photographers/Spotters: Diganta Gogoi (professional photographer), Krishnendu Chakraborty (marketing), and Abhishek Saigal (businessman) focus on capturing the visual data, specifically lightning and cloud shelf structures.
IV. Expert Context: The Dangers of Ground-Level Observation
While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides the macro-level forecasts necessary for state-wide alerts, groups like KCC provide "ground-truthing"—visual confirmation of how these systems behave when they interact with the unique topography of Bengal.
However, this proximity comes with extreme physical risk. The KCC members have faced life-threatening situations that underscore why the IMD repeatedly advises citizens to stay indoors during "Yellow" and "Red" alerts.
The Lightning Factor
Abhishek Saigal’s experience serves as a harrowing case study in the dangers of lightning photography. While attempting to capture a strike, Saigal was affected by a nearby hit that resulted in a temporary loss of sensation below his waist. Chirasree Chakraborty has also reported receiving electric shocks through "upward streamers"—the static charge that builds up on the ground just before a lightning strike.
To mitigate these risks, the team follows a strict safety protocol:
- The Escape Route: Cars are always parked facing the direction of departure.
- The Ignition Rule: Keys remain in the ignition at all times during a shoot.
- The Dedicated Spotter: At least one member is tasked solely with monitoring the lightning "strike-counter" on mobile apps, rather than looking through a camera lens.
V. Implications: Education, Climate Change, and the Human Element
The work of the Kolkata Cloud Chasers extends beyond the thrill of the hunt. They have become accidental educators and chroniclers of a changing climate.
Climate Awareness and Public Service
During the off-season, KCC members visit schools, colleges, and Rotary clubs to deliver presentations on lightning safety. West Bengal sees a high number of lightning-related fatalities annually, particularly among farmers in open fields. By showing their footage and explaining the science of "step leaders" and "return strokes," KCC provides practical survival knowledge that goes beyond textbook theory.
They also document the increasing intensity of storms in the Bay of Bengal. Scientific consensus suggests that rising sea surface temperatures are leading to more rapid intensification of cyclones. KCC’s visual archive provides a ground-level perspective on this escalation, capturing the sheer scale of cloud walls that now frequently dwarf the state’s urban infrastructure.
The Philosophy of the Small
When asked why they continue to spend their own money and risk their lives for a "success rate" of only 20%—where most chases end in clear skies or failed intercepts—the members speak of a perspective that only the storm can provide.
“You feel very small in front of nature,” says Chirasree. “Your existence feels almost insignificant. The clouds are rumbling, the thunder is cracking, and you realize how tiny you are in comparison.”
In an age of digital distraction and urban disconnect, the Kolkata Cloud Chasers remain tethered to the most primal forces of the earth. They remind us that while we may name the storms and track them on our screens, we remain, ultimately, at the mercy of the tempest. Their 12-year journey is a testament to the enduring human desire to witness the sublime, even when the sublime carries the power to destroy.
