Climate Change Editorial Photo

April 20,2012 Amlamethi,Gosaba,Sundarban,West Bengal,India,Asia-Now water levels in many embanked creeks remain at least two meters above the adjoining flood plains during high tides. The destructive wave during Aila not only breached a 400 km stretch of embankment but also over topped at many places. The water remained stagnant and marooned more than two million people for several days. The word ‘disaster’ seems a rather weak expression to describe the distress of the afflicted community. The hapless people have been living under subhuman conditions. The supply of drinking water has become the most serious challenge. It was water everywhere but there was not a single drop to drink. Most of the thatched houses have either collapsed or have been damaged. The farmland has gone under saline water making it non-productive.