Cyclone Aila

Battered but still voting, Sundarbans shows way

Gosaba: They say their lives are as hollow as the promises of politicians. But, walking on treacherous terrain or ferried by boat, as many as 85 per cent of voters in the Sunderbans region of West Bengal cast the ballot hoping it would improve their world.

Battered by cyclone Aila two years ago, the residents of the world's largest delta are still picking up the pieces, many are yet to be compensated. Yet they reaffirmed their faith in democracy by voting in third phase of assembly polls on Wednesday.

"Every year votes come and go, politicians make tall promises, but most of the promises are as hollow as our lives," Dinabandhu Mete of Gosaba, one of the worst hit areas, told IANS.

"The Aila devastated large tracts of land rendering thousands homeless. Although several lakhs of rupees are said to have been allotted by the government, the majority of affected people are yet to get compensation."...more    

Delayed monsoon could spell disaster for Indian economy

The lack of the spread of monsoon is worrying officials this year. ...  

Monsoon delayed but no reason to worry, says Met

Met officials say Cyclone Aila caused damage to progress of monsoons. ...  

Stormed: Cyclone survivors heckle, jeer Buddhadeb

Bengal CM embarrassed at relief camp; CPI-M MLA's face blackened. ...  

Buddhadeb visits cyclone-hit areas, faces protests

Angry villagers alleged that relief remained inadequate after the disaster. ...  

Hit by cyclone Aila, Darjeeling Toy Train on halt

The Toy Train's service has been disrupted since Aila lashed W Bengal. ...  

Sunderbans devastated by Aila, left in the lurch

Many villages have been completely submerged due to Cyclone Aila. ...  

Centre to implement Sachar panel report : Pranab

Pranab Mukherjee said that the report was for the welfare of minorities. ...  

Darjeeling landslide death toll reaches 27

At least four people are still missing from the district after the cyclonic storm. ...  

W B flood toll reaches 100, situation grim

Victims complained that no relief and food packets had reached them. ...  

Cyclone death toll rises to 168 in India, Bangladesh

Toll expected to rise in both countries as rescue workers reached cut-off areas. ...  

WB lacks plan to combat floods: Mamata

Negligence of the State govt has resulted into flood and erosion in WB. ...  

Aila washes out Kolkata, city limps back to normalcy

Hundreds have been displaced and electricity, water supply badly affected. ...  

Aila toll 49 in Bengal, IAF air-drops food packets

Army has been pressed into rescue and relief and IAF is air-dropping food. ...  

Cyclone Aila kills nearly 120 in India, Bangladesh

At least 89 people died in Bangladesh and 29 in India. ...  

Kolkata spared worst of Aila, early monsoons set in WB

Local train services have been partially restored. ...  

Watch: How cyclones are named

Cyclones are not named on the spur of the moment. ...

Mamata, Buddhadeb to visit cyclone-hit areas

Heavy rainfall expected in West Bengal in the next 24 hours. | 24 killed ...  

PM announces Rs 2 lakh relief for Aila victims

Aila has started gradually weakening and may not hit Kolkata with full force. ...  

Tidal waves lash Orissa coast, no deaths reported

The waves were caused by a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal. ...