Direct Action Day (16 August 1946), also known as the Great Calcutta Killing, was a day of widespread riot and manslaughter in the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) in the Bengal province of British India.
Skirmishes between the communities continued for almost a week. Finally, on 21 August, the Muslim Laegue govt was dismissed and Bengal was put under Viceroy's rule. 5 battalions British troops, supported by 4 battalions Indians and Gurkhas, were deployed in the city. Lord Wavell alleged that more British troops ought to have been called in earlier, and there is no indication that more British troops were not available.The rioting reduced on 22 August. More on Wikipedia
Skirmishes between the communities continued for almost a week. Finally, on 21 August, the Muslim Laegue govt was dismissed and Bengal was put under Viceroy's rule. 5 battalions British troops, supported by 4 battalions Indians and Gurkhas, were deployed in the city. Lord Wavell alleged that more British troops ought to have been called in earlier, and there is no indication that more British troops were not available.The rioting reduced on 22 August. More on Wikipedia
Family waiting in railroad station trying to escape city after bloody rioting
Four Hindus w. their belongs in gunny sacks, waiting for train at Howrah railroad station as they hope to escape to the villages to avoid the Muslim riots which are destroying their business & homes
Hindu children waiting to be fed of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu woman w. her children eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu woman w. her children, eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu woman w. her children, eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu women & children eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu women & children eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu women & children eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Hindu women & children eating one of their 2 daily meals of rice as they take refuge from communal riots at relief station run by the Muslim League at Lady Bradbourne College
Man carrying another man as they wait in railroad station trying to escape city after bloody rioting
People waiting in railroad station trying to escape city after bloody rioting
People waiting in railroad station trying to escape city after bloody rioting
People waiting in railroad station trying to escape city after bloody rioting
People waiting in railroad station with their cows as they try to escape city after bloody rioting
Throng of Hindus crowding the ticket windows at Howrah railroad station as they hope to escape to the villages to avoid the Muslim riots which are destroying their business & homes
Women & children waiting for food in ration line after bloody rioting
Women in a rickshaw passing evacuees streaming across the Howrah Bridge on their way to the railway station in hopes of escaping the city after bloody rioting - Calcutta (Kolkata) August 1946
Source: Life Archive hosted by Google
Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White