Great famine of 1891-92

• There had been an early winter and a  long dry hot summer which ruined crops. A population weakened by hunger became susceptible to disease so that when food began growing again Cholera and typhoid still continued to kill more
• This was a double tragedy as the able-bodied workers who succumbed to disease left families destitute with no breadwinner to provide for them. Over 350000 died from starvation or disease. The government failed to organise adequate relief and it was left to volunteer groups to help.