FAMINE IN BENGAL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 305, 20 September 1943, Page 5

FAMINE IN BENGAL

Serious Food Shortage

(Received September 19. 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 18. Pitiful stories are coming in of widespread famine in Bengal. The Delhi correspondent of the British United Press states that death is stalking abroad in the British Empire's second city—Calcutta. In a sunrise walk the correspondent found people lying dead ou the pavements by the dozens. At least 150 are dying daily in Calcutta from starvation and the accompanying diseases of cholera and dysentery. The Government maintains that food hoarders are mainly responsible. Most of the Indian nationalists and the Hindu Press blame the Government for the inadequate preparations when , a shortage was inevitable, also for inefficiency in distribution. There is not much hope that things will improve before the rice is harvested lute in January. Reuter’s Calcutta correspondent says that grim pictures of. destitution were painted in the provincial Legislature by non-oflicial speakers in the food debate. One said that children and infants were being sold in the Barisnl district, known in happier times as Bengal’s granary. Another said there was not a single village where it was possible to find people receiving two meals daily.