BENGAL FAMINE

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 5

BENGAL FAMINE

226 CALCUTTA DEATHS ON MONDAY. INCREASE OF SUFFERERS. LONDON, Oct. 19. The highest daily toll .of fa ?^ ine deaths in Calcutta was 226 on Monday. Reports from rural areas indicate deaths from starvation are mounting in proportion throughout B Half of the 16,000 to 17,000 persons in the south-west of Calcutta are on the verge of collapse, according to Mrs. Rajan Nehru, Secretary oi the All India Women’s Conterence, who visitea the area. She added tnat the roadsides are littered with women and children gasping even for water There is no sign of any great nuiry about tackling the problem rapicti.. or effectively. . Destitute natives continue to stream into Calcutta. The newspaper “Statesman” estimates there are 130,COO lying on the pavements oi the city* compared with 100,000 a month ago. The British United Press correspondent at New Delhi says the Government of India is reported to be considering the federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce suggestion that America be asked to senidi military transports with grain from Australia.