India's Cyclone Phailin: Thousands marooned by floods

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Workers are battling to rescue tens of thousands of people marooned by rising flood waters in Orissa, after the state was hit by the strongest cyclone in 14 years.

Flood waters have left nearly 100,000 people stranded in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts, officials say.

The death toll from the cyclone has risen to 27 in Orissa, with four people killed in the floods.
...
As the storm weakened a vast relief operation got under way to help up to one million displaced people.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24530193

[bulloney]

1. Glancing at the headline, I thought I saw "Palin" and maroon."

Until I read more closely, I thought this was another story about the Tundra Twit (I love that nickname) Sarah Palin.

[cosmicone]

2. Amazing preparation and rescue work

In an area 10 times as densely packed as Southern Louisiana and with primitive construction of mud and reeds, the Katrina size hurricane Phailin only killed 29 people so far. Most of the killed were the ones who refused to evacuate.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. It does seem to have been a good operation

Shows what can be done if all levels of government act with good will, and the people trust the government. I hope the recovery from the floods goes OK.

[RobertEarl]

4. Yes, government can work

It took a huge problem - the last big typhoon - to make them get to work to be ready for this one, and they seem to have been prepared.

Good thing they realize that claiming it will all be harmless is not good science or good government. Much suffering can be alleviated that way.

[JI7]

5. this makes Bush look even worse with what happened at Katrina

[cosmicone]

6. Indeed

Especially considering that India has 1/100th as much resources as compared to what Bush had at his disposal.