DESOLATION AND DESPAIR

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 8

DESOLATION AND DESPAIR

INDIAN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER WATERSPOUTS FROM CRACKS FLOOD COUNTRY MANY SUGAR FACTORIES IN RUINS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrighl CALCUTTA, January 17: (Received January 18, at 10 a.m.)' North Bihar is a, stricken land of death, desolation, and despair. It ia unlikely that the deaths directly attributable to the earthquake and the resultant floods will be less than 2,000. Graphic stories received from Europeans in the stricken Bihar area confirm the devastation’ throughout the country. Three hundred people were killed in Darbangha township alone. A feature of the earthquake has been the waterspouts. Wherever the ground cracked water and silt gushed up, flooding the whole country. European motorists stated that Mussafarpore was demolished and hundreds of people, including many women, were buried alive. Seven miles of the town road completely disappeared, and a raging torrent is flowing in itsplace. Further tremors during the night and yesterday added to the terror of the survivors, who are living in the open.Added to their- discomfort is intense cold. Many sugar factories, some British, are reduced to ruins. Difficulty of relief lies-in the fact that it is impossible to reach the districts, as planes cannot land. It is reported that in North Patna the death roll alone exceeds 1,500.

OFFICIAL REPORT TO INDIA OFFICE DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 17.(Received January 18, at noon.)’ The following information regarding the situation in Bihar.and. Orissa.and Bengal has been received by the India 1 Office;— ’ y “ Sixty-one deaths so. far have bee it officially reported from the Patna district and ten from Gaya town. . No detailed report has been received from Arrah, but it is known that buildings have suffered severely. Six. deaths are reported from Bhagalpur town, and extensive damage was caused to buildings, including the central gaol. > The damage was more serious at Mongyhp and Jamalpur. ■ i.d i- e->i ‘ ‘ Communication with the - north' of the river has been cut, and aeroplanes have been summoned from Calcutta* Much loss of life is reported from MUssafarpore. The earthquake was felt in Chota, Nagpur, and Orissa. but such reports as have been received suggest less heavy damage. ... “A telegram from the agent of the East India Railway indicates that the damage to Jamalpur is very ’ serious* About 130 out of 180 houses in the railway collapsed. The station buildings also collapsed; the workshops were badly damaged, and work will bo impossible for some time. . Seventeen, persons were killed and forty-eight injured, including forty-one seriously injured, in the railway colony. Heavy, damage was done in the bazaar, where there were at least sixteen deaths* Tents and food are being collected.. The behaviour of the inhabitants and staff has been splendid, and the discipline excellent. No European or Anglo-In-dians have been killed. , “The divisional superintendent of the Eastern Bengal Railway at Lalmonirhat reports that pertain sections have beep rendered unsafe owing to heavy damage to the track, and culverts. “The Government of Bihar and, Orissa reports that an aeroplane reconnaissance over Tirhut shows that; railway and road bridges were destroyed in many places, and water is standing over a large tract of land usually dryFissures appeared in the surface of the ground, and grey mud is forcing itself, through in. many places. | “ There has been a general collapse: of buildings, including a part of the Agricultural Research Institute, abj Pusa, and sugar factories. . “ A telegram from the Deputy Commissioner at Darjeeling (Bengal) states that the Government House and the gaol suffered considerable damage. Private property in certain parts ' also suffered severely. Brick chimneys have fallen everywhere.' Five lost their livfes, but there are no other* serious casualties. - - “The latest news from the Government of Bengal indicates that no loss of life or serious damage to property have been reported at Calcutta. The Secretary for India has telegraphed the Viceroy: “ I am distressed to learn of the serious nature of the earthquake disaster. I should be glad, if you will convey to the Governors of Bihar and Orissa and Bengal my deep sympathy for those bereaved or rendered homeless by the catastrophe.* '•