According to the local village elders, the island’s acreage has decreased by half during the past two decades.
This development led the island residents to ask the Indian government to help them relocate, as frequent flooding continues to inflict damage upon people’s homes and the farmland that sustains them.
A girl plays on the coastline on Ghoramara Island, India, October 23, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
Sheikh Aftab Uddin, 66, and his wife Mamta Bibi, 50, pose for a picture outside their new mud house after their previous house was washed away due to high tides on Ghoramara Island, India, August 19, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta of the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders. "If government provides rehabilitation I will leave," Uddin said.
Workers repair a boat along the coast on Ghoramara Island, India on October 24, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
Purnima Shaw, 27, makes a ritual painting from rice paste on a clay floor on the occasion of the Laxmi Puja festival on Ghoramara Island, India, October 24, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
A woman walks towards an embankment after tying her cow to higher ground during high tide on Ghoramara Island, India, September 8, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
Shiite Muslim men participate in a Muharram procession on Ghoramara Island, India, September 22, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
A hilsa fish is seen as fishermen pull the net onto a boat near Ghoramara Island, India, on October 24, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
Shi'ite Muslims carry a Tazia, or a replica of the coffin of Imam Hussein, during a Muharram procession on Ghoramara Island, India, September 22, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
A fisherman speaks with others as they prepare to cast a net in the waters near Ghoramara Island, India, October 24, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
A boy catches fish during high tide on Ghoramara Island, India, September 8, 2018. Ghoramara Island, part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal, has nearly halved in size over the past two decades, according to village elders.
