The World: Sudden Death on the Bay of Bengal

The drizzle gave way to heavy rains and eventually to squalls. In the tiny hamlet of Komali in Andhra state, on the Bay of Bengal, the parson of Christ Church flung open the church doors and called his flock from their thatched houses. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden," he intoned in a deep bass, "and I will give you rest." About 125 villagers, most of them harijan (untouchable) converts, took shelter. When winds ranging up to 100 m.p.h. ripped off the roof, the walls crumbled and entombed the...