After Aila Cyclone

Waiting for the waters to recede. It may take a while. In the meantime, most of the land may become too saline for the coming agriculture season Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

A harmonium can be very heavy to carry while trying to escape mountain high waves. It must be very special to someone Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

People jostle for space as they wait for relief. Water is gushing in and the land in Sunderban islands is slowly giving way to the sea. It is already getting crowded. Sunderban delta could see the first major migration of climate change refugees Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

Bamboo sticks become quick fixes for broken embankments. Their techniques may appear primitive but people didn't have time to deliberate, strategise and delay action. State officials can do that Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

Carcasses -both human and animal- are still seen floating around. Most of the water is contaminated and clean water is hard to come by. Authorities fear an outbreak of water borne diseases. It may have taken this boy a good part of the day to fill that jug, hopefully with clean water Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

An exposed body and a stripped home. The paraphernalia that connects the two sits huddled, covered in tarpaulin, facing an uncertain future Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

Close to a million are living in the open, dependant on an outsider's help for basic necessities. The government responds by distributing 7177 bags of rice, 640 bags of pulses. Has Sunderbans been giving the Census of India a slip or has the government grossly under estimated the 'numbers' in need of assistance? Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

The district officials argue that it will be difficult to reach relief to everyone. Cyclone Aila has disrupted the usual routes of contact and the remoteness of certain islands does not help. Already, troubled by an erratic climate and a rising sea level, the absence of strategy and effort by the state, heighten the insecurity felt by the people of Sunderban Islands Photographs by Nilayan Dutta / DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

Manipur, Sunderbans, West Bengal 1,80, 000 homes were destroyed by cyclone Aila. People will soon begun returning but how will they rebuild their lives? The state has asked for a relief package of 1000 crores from the Central government. It is still to plan, how the aid will reach the people Photographs by – Bijoy Chowdhury/ DRIK/ Majority World

After Aila Cyclone

Jhupkali, Sunderbans, West Bengal 1,80, 000 homes were destroyed by cyclone Aila. People will soon begun returning but how will they rebuild their lives? The state has asked for a relief package of 1000 crores from the Central government. It is still to plan, how the aid will reach the people Photographs by – Bijoy Chowdhury/ DRIK/ Majority World