Bangladesh SIDR kills 3167, more than 1000 still missing

Dhaka, Nov 21 (UNI) Official death toll in super cyclone SIDR that lashed Bangladesh's coastal belt last Thursday has reached 3167, while 1056 people were still missing, a spokesman for the armed forces said today.

The Food and Disaster Ministry, however, put the casualty figure 2942.

Lt Commander K M Azim told newspersons that helicopters and cargo planes airlifted 51 tons of relief materials today for the cyclone victims in 15 coastal districts.

Barisal and Mongal were made focal points under the navy's supervision for depositing the relief goods from where they were carried to affected areas of Bagerhat, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, patuakhali, Bhola and Barisal.

Meanwhile, foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka flew over worst hit areas of Sundarbans, Dublarchar, Patharghata, Southkhali and landed at Sarankhola upazila to view the trail of death and devastation.

Lt Col Mainullah Chowdhury, who accompanied the diplomats, said they have been able to reach all inaccessible areas and agreed the need for more relief materials to meet the requirement.

Food and Disaster Ministry Advisor Tapan Chowdhury said the government would introduce a special Vulnerable Group Feeding programme in the cyclone hit districts from December 1.

Meanwhile, two C-130 cargo planes arrived here today carrying relief goods from Pakistan. One cargo plane is expected to arrive from India tomorrow. Cargo aircraft with relief goods also arrived from Japan and the United States today.

UNI