Cyclone sweeps B'desh, at least 2 dead, many fishermen missing

Dhaka, Oct 27 (UNI) A cyclone erupting from the Bay of Bengal lashed at southern coastal district of Bangladesh early today leaving at least two people dead, many fishermen missing and hundreds of mud houses damaged, officials said.

Preliminary reports from coastal district administration said a woman and a girl were killed in a house collapse at Char Fashion island in southern Bhola district close to the Bay.

About 2000 mud houses were destroyed while many fishing trawlers with fishermen were reported missing.

The cyclone accompanied by a 5-6 feet tidal surge damaged local dams flooding vast areas in Bhola and other coastal districts.

In southwestern Bagerhat district some 5000 thatched houses were damaged and 15 fishing trawlers capsized in the Bay, leaving more than 50 fishermen missing.

Alauddin, a farmer, said 15 trawlers sank with 150 fishermen in Dublar char, Katka, Meheralirchar and Narkelbaria of Bagerhat as the cyclone 'Rashmi' crossed through the area. Of them, over 100 managed to swim ashore but the rest remained missing.

Mongla Sea Port acting chairman Lutfor Rahman said loading and unloading of goods from cargo ships came to a halt since last morning. He said at present four ships berthed at the port and all river vessels were safe.

The storm also damaged standing crops on vast tracts of land in the coastal areas, uprooted trees and snapped power lines.

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