STAGGERING DEATH ROLL

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1946, Page 5

STAGGERING DEATH ROLL

Press Assn.

W Orgy of fflurder and Arson CALCUTTA A SHAMBLES

By Telegraph

-Copyrighi

lieceivetl Wednesday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, August 21. Order lias been restored in most parts of Calcutta but assaults and stabbiiigs eontinue to be reported from tbe city's more obscure areas. This is natural, says the Times eorrespondeiit. Bitter hatreds generated during the unpreeedented tliree-day orgy of murder, arson and looting in India's biggest eity, cannot rapidly sub side. The-' Britsh-owned newspaper Statesman was the first to estirnate the deaths alone at between 2000 and 3000. This huge figure staggered the public, especiaih ontside Calcutta, nothing liear it having occurred, elsewhere in India before, but the estimate has not been officially cliallenged and responsible circles now adrait that even 3000 is probably an underestimate and that the actual nuniber of dead will never be known owing to the shambles to which the eity was reduced. The nuniber of wonnded is reckoned at anything up to 10,000. The incendiarism, looting, etc., was also of an unparalleled intensity and extent land it will be many days, perhaps weeks, before Calcutta is itself again.