India Tornado Leaves Nearly 1 Million Homeless After Ripping Through Impoverished Villages - Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Up to one million people in eastern India are living out in the open after a tornado ripped through impoverished villages, flattening tens of thousands of homes, the United Nations and aid workers said on Thursday.

The nor'wester -- a weather pattern that develops in the Bay of Bengal during the summer -- struck the states of Bihar and West Bengal on April 13, killing 137 people. The U.N., aid agencies and government officials say more than 200,000 houses have been fully or severely damaged by the storm, which was packing wind speeds of 120 kph (75 mph).

"Most people are living out in the open amidst the wreckage of their homes," said Amarendra Ghana, programme officer for the Catholic Relief Services in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district. "We have started distributing shelter kits in both districts which include tarpaulin sheets, plastic mats, rope, matchboxes and candles, but the need is great and much, much more is required."

Aid workers say those impacted are the "poorest of the poor" -- small and landless farmers, whose mud and thatch homes were unable to withstand the force of winds and lashing rains. While state authorities have announced relief packages, aid workers in the field say they have witnessed government distributions in only a few areas.

EDIT

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2010/04/22/eline/links/20100422elin024.html

More shall be taken. Ms Bigmack

It's good.

:(