The Indian Sundarbans, surrounded by rivers and the Bay of Bengal, experienced severe destruction during Cyclone Amphan in 2020. The storm brought saline water, killing trees and rendering farmland and fisheries unusable. Residents, already facing a freshwater crisis, now walk miles to access drinking water or depend on costly packaged alternatives. The defunct tubewells, damaged by successive cyclones, exacerbate the scarcity.

Many families lost their homes and livelihoods, forcing migration in search of work. The rise in unsustainable shrimp farming and depleted groundwater has worsened ecological fragility, making the mangrove-dependent communities even more vulnerable to future storms. Despite government promises, aid often fails to reach the affected.

The Sundarbans, known for its vital mangrove forests, provides a natural barrier against floods and storms. Yet, climate change, deforestation, and rising sea levels threaten its survival. As the day ends, the resilient spirit of the Sundarbans’ inhabitants continues, echoing in the calls of fireflies and the lapping waves.