GREAT FLOOD IN INDIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1225, 2 July 1872, Page 2

GREAT FLOOD IN INDIA.

REPORTED LOSS OF 1000 LIVES. London, May B— Noon.— A despatch just received in this city contains information of a terrible calamity whioh has befallen the town of Vellore, in Madras, British India. During a hurricane, which extended] for miles along the eastern

shores of the Indian Ocean, the waters rose to an immense height, and swept over the sloping table lands which form the coast boundary of the Presidency of Madras, inundating the country for miles into the interior. The town of Vellore was covered by the flood ; many houses were swept entirely away, and upwards of 1000 of the unfortunate inhabitants were drowned. At the first approach of the sea large numbers of persons fled from the town in precipitate haste, and sought refuge in the mountainous districts to the south. When the hurricane abated and the flood receded the country' bordering on the sea coast was found to be strewn with the wrecks of dwellings!. The amount of damage caused by the flood is beyond estimation. Over 12,000 of the inhabitants of Vellore are now houseless, and are now living in rude and improvised dwellings until a better means of shelter is obtainable. Three thousand unfortunate families are stated to be utterly destitute, every portion of their effects haying been swept away by the voracious flood. ' Thousands of acres of crops, which before the present calamity were in a thriving condition, are totally ruined, and the prospects of the sufferers with regard to means of subsistence are at present of a most discouraging character.