Bangla cyclone toll rises to 100

DHAKA, Sept 28: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed today toured the southern Bangladesh coastal region where a cyclone, riding o...

DHAKA, Sept 28: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed today toured the southern Bangladesh coastal region where a cyclone, riding on winds of over 150 kmph yesterday, killed more than 100 people and left about 10,000 injured, officials said.

The cyclone, which arose in the Bay of Bengal to the south of the country, struck early yesterday catching people in their sleep and ripped through their dwellings taking a heavy toll of life, livestock and destroying crops.

Hasina visited the worst affected islands of Bhola and Noakhali and directed the authorities to provide adequate relief to the people. Relief Ministry officials said they had counted 51 bodies till 1900 hours local time today and there was no trace of 37 people in Bhola and Barguna islands.

An estimated 4.5 lakh people were rendered homeless or otherwise affected. At least 300 fishermen on board nearly 36 fishing trawlers and boats failed to return from the turbulent bay and were feared drowned, the mass-circulation vernacular daily Ittefaq reported.