FAMINE in India of a scope surpassing the Bengal Disaster of 1943 was foreseen in Gover­n­ment quarters in Delhi on Friday [Feb 1], unless means to check it in time prove successful, and Government critics have poured out charges that the proposed remedies are already too late, says Preston Grover, A.P.A. Chief.

For the first time in many years, both the north-east and south-west monsoons which water Southern India have failed. In addition, the usual Christmas rains which ripen the winter harvest of wheat in North-West, Northern and Central India have failed.

The result is that the rice crop in many areas of Southern India is already a total loss and the consequent deficit cannot be met with surplus grain from the North. So seriously does the Government take the situation, that the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, will himself make a personal survey of the disaster to the crop in the southern areas of India. He will fly to Bangalore on Feb 6, and from there will make a two-day tour partly by air and partly by car designed to give him an opportunity to see the state of the crops and discuss with local officials possible means of relieving the shortage.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021