Heart breaking.

I miss here the "incredible" comments of other series. This one is, for me, one of the best. I love looking at the eyes of the displaced and read far more than what one photography says.

Congrats for the photos. 28, 26, 19 and 13 are "incredible".

great

only going to get more common as the earth warms up.

Amazing, as usual.

75mph? Is this a misprint? That's a minor thunderstorm here in the Midwest.

Can somebody explain what exactly is in pic #27 ??
To me it looks, like Jesus covered with a white tunic or cotton sheet.
Allan, please help is it really a person in the picture?

Thanks. Great work as always.

Piêkne! Czekamy na wiêcej!

Another natural tragedy like the earthquake in Abruzzo (Italy) of April.

:-( http://tinyurl.com/earthquake-italy-2 and http://tinyurl.com/earthquake-italy-1

@ #7: I believe the damage was mostly a result of the incredible storm surge.

However, in the Midwest you have brick buildings and storm windows. In this part of the world, they have huts and straw; that doesn't quite stand up to the wind like your home does.

I'm going to have to agree with Thomas here. This is quite heart breaking.

Such beautiful people - I'd love the opportunity travel India!

Amazing photos, as always ... and so sad.

To dorothy and toto: I understand 75 mph winds might not sound too bad (it's a Category 1 hurricane -- I've been through a few of those), but when coupled with torrential rains and storm surges in a low-lying country like Bangladesh (with construction and living standards unlike the ones we enjoy in the US), the results are devastating and deadly.

I was particularly taken with 13 and 14.

Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos, and helping to increase my awareness of events that take place outside my own little bubble.

#13 is an extraordinary shot; the focus and composition are just spot-on.

Sometimes I feel that the government has taken things for granted. Cyclones like this are not a rare event, there is one almost every other year. Its very heart breaking to know that thousands of people's lives and properties just perish in an event like this...

I do understand though that moving millions of people to a safe zone, people who are mostly poor and do not have a means of transport, is a humongous task...

And that's substained winds of 75 mph, not gusts to 75 mph that you might get in a thunder storm.

To James in comment #5....
Why did not you not go ahead and blame Bush?
By the way cyclones are very common in the Indian Ocean and this is just the most recent. Global warming or the new mantra "climate change" had nothing to do with it. Could it be rampant population growth and a culture that promotes a lifestyle in the low lying areas? It is not like this is the first time something like this has happened there.

Let's see how many of those "oh God created such beauty"-comments there'll be here.

Great pictures as always! Maybe not the funniest topic though..

WOW pic #5! I didn't realize that Jesus was an Indian army soldier doing relief work!

Amazing photos, with a very sad reality. A reality, that we hear quite often these years...
Pictures # 9, 13, 18, 21, 23 & 26 are beautifully captured..

The spirit of these people shines out from every photo. The contrast between the obvious devestation and their beautifully colored garments/gorgeous faces reminds me that there is always reason for beauty. The sense of community also makes me think of the Red River Flood pictures. No matter where on earth, we are all the same in the most amazing ways!

As usual, a good crop of photographs selected by The Big Picture. However, this is sadly an incomplete selection. Cyclone Aila not only affected the plains region of Eastern India (as depicted by the above photographs) but also caused havoc in the hills of Darjeeling. The incessant rain and winds were responsible for multiple landslides in the hills which brought about death and destruction. Hundreds of families were displaced, roads were washed away and many lives were lost.

The Big Picture should add the photographs from that as well, to show the destructive power of the cyclone in the hills and the fate of those poor victims.

(For those interested: there is an initiative on to help rebuild the houses of thos
e affected by Aila in the Darjeeling hills. Please contact the Darjeeling Press Guild @ vivek.chettriATgmail.com)

Impresionantes imágenes de la cruda realidad humana. Por que deben sufrir tanto los más desprotegidos? Desgarrador.

we should learn from these people, even though they lost everything, you can still see life in their eyes. i hope they recover from this soon.
we are so spoiled in United States and Europe, we take everything as granted, and these people have no shoes to ware but still have high hopes.
amazing pictures, you can read their mind through their eyes...
God bless all good people.

RO, #19, "Let's see how many of those "oh God created such beauty"-comments there'll be here."

Those comments don't appear for these kinds of entries because this carnage what we expect of god. Seemingly random slaughter is his bread and butter. You don't pay a child to clean his room do you? It's only when he goes FAR out of his way and gives us nature photography that he deserves the praise.

Thank you

Beautiful and very evocative photos taken by both Andrew Biraj & Pavel Rahman

Thanks Great pictures I wish Govt will come withsome solution to rebuild their life immidiatly

Feel very sorry for them.

so sad...my heart goes to all those people out there....May god bless them to recover soon....My sincere prayers............

#21 impressive photo

Its really heart breaking to see what mother nature had done to all these people.

India , Again , again , and again. Rural people are politicians scapegoat.

This is so terrible to all of you.So,we must keep our world like recycle,reuse and many many more.............
Thanks to GOOGLE and all of employees.
JOHN from MYANMAR.

@3 " I love looking at the eyes of the displaced" - what kind of sick kind of comment is that? Nice to see from far as long as it doesn't affect you - right!!!

A few comments, about this set of photo's in particular, and Big Picture in general...

#8 - are you serious? Do you really think that's Jesus in the picture? These people dress in loin cloths, sari's etc. It's not some miracle you've witnessed, like the face of the Virgin Mary on a piece of toast, rather it's just a picture of a native of these parts, in their everyday clothes. Quite difficult to see them in detail because of the distance, but just a person, m'kay?

In general: It really frustrates me with a lot of the comments on Big Picture that you often get "Why didn't you include this one?!" or "What about my town?" or "Yes but there's a whole other side to this story." Stop it!! Stop it now!! A set of 30 or so photos can only ever be representative of the situation or event they illustrate - a representation of reality, not reality itself. And I believe that part of the philosophy of Big Picture is to present the very best photos, not every single aspect captured on film.

The inherent beauty of most of these photo essays is that they need very few words to explain them - some context perhaps - but generally they speak for themselves. But they can only speak about a small part of the event/moment/occassion etc. It's up to individuals as to whether they want to look beyond the photos presented. The photos here can only ever be an introduction to a topic - otherwise there will be no end to the number of photos presented, and we'll all be looking at photos endlessly. And we'll have no time to make comments...

Thanks Big Picture - one of my very favourite sites for some months now....

JL @ 18...you're all heart.

Brandon @ 12...I don't think they need tourists right now.

breath taking

Ah! This is my country and they are my people!!

What many people don't know outside our country that these people DID have some protection through embankments. But those embankments were weak inside and could not stand the high rising water. If these are not repaired soon, same devastation will happen again and again.

Nice sixpack at photo 4!

So Sad.Ochin Brikho is my group name.We work for socal activities.Bengali culture and develop our carrier.Ochin Brikhon Is resdy to help AILA victim peoples.Please pray for victim peoples.

Fantastic experienc again.

I love #16 and #21.
I was amazed by the guy's lean muscles in #16, and the fierce will you can feel through his body language.

And #21, the three different faces in the foreground. One old man looking suspiciously at the camera, one is just so concentrated on something, probably the food coming according to the caption and the last old man looking so devastated and exhausted. And then in the background some women are smiling, most of them seem to be waiting for the food... This photo just summarizes everything for me.

Heartbreaking ...

can't see any pictures since last 5-6 post. Is some setting changed, photo storage moved to some other server?

You can check, for old posts in archives dropdown.

Everyone of these big picture postings seem to include someone ridiculing God and faith in God...EVERY ONE...doesn't seem to matter what the topic is. I guess God and his detractors are indeed everywhere in any given subject.

Awful pictures. Heartbreaking.

It's interesting, always two types of comments. Those commending the quality of photographs, the beauty of the moment captured, and those commenting on the story the pictures are telling.
I think both are correct.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm touched by the reactions of the readers here. The destruction both in west and east Bengal (Bangladesh) is enormous. We at Asha for Education and Association for India Development are working with our local partners in the Sundarbans to supplement government aid as much as possible. Please read about our effort here
http://www.ashanet.org/atlanta/cyclone_aila.php
We thank Boston Globe for providing the big picture and informing readers on natural disasters happening half a world away!

I am delighted to see reactions from the western world. Hope such outlook will end hostility bwteen th rich & poor nation & Western World would come forward with direct helping hand ti reduce the sffering of the (in)human kind of the India & Bangladesh.

amazing pics, equally saddening

I would like to thank you for sharing these fantastic pictures with us and giving us an opportunity to recognize the sufferings of those whose lives have been miserably shattered by a mere 75mph "storm". Unfortunately, for these less fortunate people it is only insult to injury in real life. Circumstances have forced them to kneel to lifetime subjugation. Yet time and again they score as the world's happiest folk.

Had no idea this was happening. Thanks so much for posting this.

so sad to see this...

so much heart break to see those peoples...

I can't believe people are still living like this.

Sencillamente impresionante.No escapamos a la furia de la naturaleza

A suggestion. Since these pictures get a great deal of attention, perhaps at the end of the post there could be some links to resources that would direct us to help those affected?

It is much easier to help, when there is a place to start.

What should I say this I am missing the words

Not sure who coined this phrase but........
"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back."

Excellent coverage... but this destruction is nothing as compared to the destruction in the famed Darjeeling Hills (where from we get Darjeeling tea)... for pictures visit....

http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Photo-Stories/The-years-first-monsoon-strikes-in-Darjeeling-hills.html

http://savethehills.blogspot.com/

now this is news reporting!!! very good set of photos that brings you right to the scene. good work! keep it up! :)

photographs highlight photographers presence there....& I salute the spirit to be there where it is needed in those cruicial moments..!

I feel sorry for all those who never feels the pain when some one looses everything! instead commenting on the photos lets put our hands together to help the victims, pls find some ave's to donet these people. pls visit www.wfp.org to find more details.

If you want to donate, consider donating via Music For Relief (http://www.musicforrelief.org/donate)

Click the donate button under Cyclone Aila Relief.

Unlike the Red Cross, who do tremendous work but spend about 45% of the donated money on their administrative overhead, 100% of the funds donated via MFR will be used for Cyclone Aila relief effort.

It's important to consider the 10 recommandations of the VFL for disaster risks reduction. Those communities need a special attention regarding the way their live.

. . . water water everywhere - and the ones who could truly appreciate all this water - - - - - - - are sitting in a net (#17) . . . .

The disaster is so terrible but you can see such determination in the faces and stances of so many of the people.

Thank you for making this so vivid. It's difficult to look at but necessary for us to understand what is happening.

It must be nice to sit in your armchairs and admire the photography and to feel like you understand the realities you are so far removed from. Do you really understand that these photos capture just one moment of humanity trying to recover and remain resilient? In fact only over the next few months will the reality be revealed as they can't feed themselves and they'll adjust by taking only one meal a day in order to feed the whole family, disease sets in and dignity will be lost as they rely on handouts and cannot care for themselves and rebuild stronger in preparation for the next cyclone.
When will these photos move you enough to get off your couch and lobby your administration to act against climate change or for you to change the way you think about and live your lives. Maybe you'll feel moved sufficiently to respond to me but how about actually doing something?

hope these pictures will shake the heart of all powerful peoples/countries whom god has given the strength to help the needy. atleast i understand now that there is nothing above humanity. if i can bring smile in a single face among the sufferers then i will consider that my life is successful.

@alsanan,Elise,Brandon,Daan

and for all the other people who find the pictures above beautiful, cute and all those who want to visit india/bangladesh after seeing these fantastic pictures, I would just request them to feel fortunate enough to be sitting thousands of miles away from this catastrophic location...I don't know why but all those comments sound extremely hypocritical to me. I'd really like to see what your reactions would be if someone was to call lets say Katrina pics as cute and beautiful. Empathize before you open your mouth. Please.

It is Heart Breaking to see so many helpless n Innocent ppl fighting for their life.

One thing common in each Photograph that is Zest for LIFE....

God bless the Affected !!!!!!!!

Good Work Alan ......

heart breaking......................

I had been to Sandeshkhali area with relief material and have seen for myself the plight of the people who have lost everything except their hunger and thirst. Aid will keep them alive, unless an outbreak of some enteric disease take its toll. The BIG question is what will these people do for a living after the dikes are repaired and houses rebuilt? Agriculturaal land will not yield anything for a few years due to the salt deposited by the saline waters. Fresh water fish farming also face the same problem. Can anyone suggest an alternative means of livelihood?

Its not the thime to talk about how sad and unlucky these people are...
but it is the time to help them in every possible way..
If you people really wanna help pl visit below given site..
www.goonj.info

Its painful

These photos evoke the same deep sadness I experienced when I was working in Khulna. Local and governmental organisations are working hard to decrease the number of deaths from cyclones and other natural disasters through preventative measures such as building cyclone shelters and post-disaster action such as delivering food and medical aid. These photos evoke such sadness and anger at how people suffer, at poverty, and inaction and in the same light, can create a distance allowing some of us to view humans as subjects of photography rather than as our neighbors who suffer. There are things we can each do that create a sustainable effect for people worldwide, you can participate in the creation of healthier lives and healthier communities. Why do we wait to see suffering to take action? Why do we leave it at opening our wallets as if a one-time donation is enough and keeps our conscience clean? The power is in the people, we control the governments: you can lobby your local government and influence global policy on a grander scale.

After just reading Amitav Ghosh's atmospheric book "The Hungry Tide" , which takes place in the Sundarbans, I can readily understand how these fragile islands , many composed of little more than mangroves with fluid river pathways subject to tides with little separating fresh and salt water in the best of times, are so very vulnerable to weather.Good book.
Also and more important...
Relief org. Goonj1@yahoo doing immediate on site relief work, please contribute.

Let us come together to help them,they are in pain

Heart breaking....

#15 is a great photo of everyone working together to try to fix some damage. it's just too bad that more couldn't be done beforehand.

we can easily comment on this huge heartbreaking photographs.But the real situation is uncommentable,it will be better for us if we help immediately by giving pure drinking water and other important things,we like to believe man for man,isn't it?

the pictures were gud. but the scene was horrifying. may GOD bless them

Scroll the pictures and listen to Man in the Mirror (did it coincidentally!) WOW!!!

omg some of them pics are great i love the sattelite pics oh and gutted

pictures are very good. I am working for the past one month in the aila affected areas in sunderban and is organising medical camps. I have talked with unicef officials and closely monitoring relief work with a hospital over there . people are still dying because of absence of medical teams.most of the areas remain almost inaccessable and to find doctors willing to stay at night is impossible.pl try to provide help to those people in whatever way you can. may god be with you and bless your soul.

I would like to thank this site to give the close realy look of the victims site and allow us to understand the situation better then what media covers.

the man are not so good in the area of aila

Thanks for taking pickture.

I return from this page with a broken heart and a heart that is full of sadness and pity for the poor people.What to do? Just believe in Jehovah God and believe that he will never leave them.

you did a great task. nice

i'ld like to donate some amount online from sbi/icici.
send me the address.

This is really sad!!!

i cant take it i feel sorry for them

"A perfect picture is one that captures reality as it is".Thus, amazin photography!!
I was in Kolkata when this happened. Trees fallin here n there, ppl stuck in car under trees, shattered glass.. in short, was horrible. Although the impact here was nothing compared to Sunderbans.
Most of the housemaids in kolkata are from sunderbans..aila had washed away their houses.. it was watching them we realized the impact was way more devastating than it felt or looked!!

amazing pics..
i cant believe it ...
i loves them..

omg..................................