'Aila' wreaks havoc in coastal dists
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
The death toll in cyclone 'Aila' that wrought havoc in the country's southern coastal districts rose sharply to 121 Tuesday, according to unofficial counts that continued taking upturn, report agencies.
Of the total deaths, 32 were reported from Satkhira district, while 20 from Khulna, 25 from Noakhali, 13 from Bhola, eight from Patuakhali, six from Laxmipur, four from Barisal, two each from Bagerhat, C'nawabganj and Cox's Bazar, and one each from Natore and Magura.
Food and Disaster Management Ministry control room, however, put the official death toll at 81, including four in Bhola, nine in Barisal, seven in Patuakhali, 20 in Khulna, 25 in Satkhira, six in Laxmipur and eight in Noakhali.
Reports from India said the storm, accompanied by tidal surge, also claimed 34 lives in West Bengal, as it blew across the Indo-Bangladesh border in full fury. Combining the unofficial figures, 'Aila' took a toll of at least 150 human lives in the two countries.
Besides, thousands of people were shifted to makeshift emergency shelters along the south-western coastlines, as tidal surges damaged nearly a dozen of flood control structures like dams, marooning thousands others. The height of the surges was much higher than before, 12 to 13 feet at places, forcing many people to seek shelter on rooftops.
Movement of ferries at Chandpur, Barisal, Mawa and Paturia were suspended. River communications in the coastal districts were also snapped.
However, the Mongla Port resumed operations from Tuesday morning, while the Chittagong Port that partially reopened on Monday afternoon was fully back in business.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaq said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had directed the MPs to visit the affected areas. As many as 42,000 volunteers along with army, navy and coast guard members are conducting rescue and relief operations in the affected areas under local arrangements.
The government has so far granted 1,000 tonnes of rice and Tk 1.2 million as relief for the affected people, the minister said adding there were already sufficient stocks of relief in the affected districts.
In Satkhira, hardest hit by the twin-menace of cyclone and tidal surge from the Bay of Bengal, death toll rose to 32. But the district administration put the initial figure at 25.
Eight of the deceased were children, while five women and 10 men in Ashashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas. Fourteen people were killed in Gabura union alone of Shyamnagar during the disastrous storm and surge.
Another worst-hit district is Khulna, as the cyclone crossed the coast through this area with wind speeds rising up to 90-kph. The district administration confirmed the death of 20 people from 'Aila' until Tuesday afternoon. Of them, 18 people were killed in Koyra upazila, while one each in Dakop and Batiaghata upazila. The cyclone has ruined 39 unions totally, while 11 partially.
Of the total deaths, 32 were reported from Satkhira district, while 20 from Khulna, 25 from Noakhali, 13 from Bhola, eight from Patuakhali, six from Laxmipur, four from Barisal, two each from Bagerhat, C'nawabganj and Cox's Bazar, and one each from Natore and Magura.
Food and Disaster Management Ministry control room, however, put the official death toll at 81, including four in Bhola, nine in Barisal, seven in Patuakhali, 20 in Khulna, 25 in Satkhira, six in Laxmipur and eight in Noakhali.
Reports from India said the storm, accompanied by tidal surge, also claimed 34 lives in West Bengal, as it blew across the Indo-Bangladesh border in full fury. Combining the unofficial figures, 'Aila' took a toll of at least 150 human lives in the two countries.
Besides, thousands of people were shifted to makeshift emergency shelters along the south-western coastlines, as tidal surges damaged nearly a dozen of flood control structures like dams, marooning thousands others. The height of the surges was much higher than before, 12 to 13 feet at places, forcing many people to seek shelter on rooftops.
Movement of ferries at Chandpur, Barisal, Mawa and Paturia were suspended. River communications in the coastal districts were also snapped.
However, the Mongla Port resumed operations from Tuesday morning, while the Chittagong Port that partially reopened on Monday afternoon was fully back in business.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaq said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had directed the MPs to visit the affected areas. As many as 42,000 volunteers along with army, navy and coast guard members are conducting rescue and relief operations in the affected areas under local arrangements.
The government has so far granted 1,000 tonnes of rice and Tk 1.2 million as relief for the affected people, the minister said adding there were already sufficient stocks of relief in the affected districts.
In Satkhira, hardest hit by the twin-menace of cyclone and tidal surge from the Bay of Bengal, death toll rose to 32. But the district administration put the initial figure at 25.
Eight of the deceased were children, while five women and 10 men in Ashashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas. Fourteen people were killed in Gabura union alone of Shyamnagar during the disastrous storm and surge.
Another worst-hit district is Khulna, as the cyclone crossed the coast through this area with wind speeds rising up to 90-kph. The district administration confirmed the death of 20 people from 'Aila' until Tuesday afternoon. Of them, 18 people were killed in Koyra upazila, while one each in Dakop and Batiaghata upazila. The cyclone has ruined 39 unions totally, while 11 partially.