Fifty four thousand square miles of crop bearing land is reported to be submerged beneath flood waters in Orissa, India. This represents a quarter of the total area of this mainly agricultural State. Scenes of great distress and despair were recorded by our cameraman during a three-day tour -Aug 30-1st Sept - of disaster stricken districts.

Described by Government relief agencies as the biggest of its kind in India, the disaster has ripped up vital railway track, destroyed telegraph communication systems, washed away complete villages and cattle, forcing survivors to seek what little shelter they can devise on hillsides overlooking the turbulent waters.

Boats and helicopters have been organised by the Red Cross and other welfare societies to bring food and comfort necessities to the hastily formed refugee centres where refugees have been taken after being rescued from roof and tree top havens. Many were reported to have been on the verge of starvation.