Bangladesh cyclone claims 2300 lives

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNI) Super cyclone SIDR has killed 2300 people in Bangladesh's coastal districts even as rescuers were looking frantically for thousands of those who went missing.

The Food and Disaster Management Ministry put the death toll at 2300. However, rescuers and local journalists who visited the worst hit offshore islands feared the casualty figure will go up further as thousands of villagers mostly fishermen were still missing.

Air force helicopters, navy ships ... Eds: Here pick up from line one, para three of DF17 WEATHER-BANGLADESH-THIRD LEAD STORM.

UNI