Cyclone leaves 81 people killed, 2.6 mln affected in Bangladesh

DHAKA, May 26 -- The cyclonic storm "Aila" which crossed southwestern Bangladesh's coastal area on Monday left at least 81 people dead and 2.6 million affected in the country's 15 coastal districts, officials said on Tuesday.

Officer-in-charge of the control room under Food and Disaster Management Ministry Ashrafuzzaman told Xinhua on Tuesday that according to primary estimate 808 other people were injured and 2.6 million of people affected in the coastal districts.

He also said about 7,500 domestic animals died in the tide wave triggered by the cyclone which also hit state of West Bengal of India.

Thousands of thatched houses and a number of embankments in Bangladesh's coastal area were washed away and hundreds of thousands of islanders marooned by 3-4 meters high surge caused under the impact of the cyclone, officials said.

Secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry Mokhlesur Rahman who visited the southwestern Khulna district on Tuesday said that the rescue operation is going on in full swing and the army personnel have been deployed to deliver relief materials to some remote marooned islands.

He said assessment of losses is being prepared, according to which the government will take further steps.

The country's southwestern Satkhira and Khulna districts and southeastern Noakhali district are the most-affected area with the death toll of 25, 20 and 19 respectively, officials in charge of the districts confirmed.

Local police chief of Hatia sub-district of Noakhali district Abdul Rob told Xinhua over phone structures on an offshore island Nizum Dwip which accommodates some 20,000 people under the Hatia sub-district were almost completely damaged by the tide wave.

Besides, he said, some 40,000 to 50,000 deer on the island were either drowned or washed away.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the cyclonic storm "Aila" started crossing southwestern Bangladesh's Khulna coast on Monday afternoon and the crossing lasted for hours. The cyclone now over West Bengal of India adjoining Bangladesh has weakened into a land depression.

The Bangladeshi government has allocated 1.2 million taka (about 17,143 U.S. dollars) cash and 1,000 tons of rice for the affected people. He said adequate relief materials are kept stock for the affected people.

On Nov. 15, 2007, a devastating cyclone Sidr battered Bangladesh's southern and southwestern coastal areas, leaving thousands of people dead or missing.