From the archive record
This is an aerial view of the Pakhiralay village coast along the Gomdi-Datta river in the highly endangered UNESCO heritage site, Sundarbans. These ferries are the only way that people get from one island to the other for jobs, schools, markets and so on. There are very few metal roads due to constant humidity and water leading to severe damage. Life on the islands of Sundarbans for mankind is extremely challenging as water in itself is salty. The government has provided nonetheless to very few village pipelines for clean drinking water. Most of the homes have a small pond or pukkhara as locally called for water. With the help of the mud of this pukkahra along with bamboos, these villagers make walls for their home and the roofs are made of rice hatch. Most of the cement homes that one can