Cyclone 'Aila' death toll reaches 121

Dhaka, May 27 (ANI): The death toll from Cyclone Aila rose to 121, as thousands of people marooned in the coastal areas were battling to survive the aftermath with little food and drinking water.

According to Daily Star, the storm that ripped through the south-western coast on Monday has left at least 32 people killed in Satkhira, 25 in Noakhali, 20 in Khulna, 13 in Bhola, nine in Barisal, seven in Patuakhali, six in Laxmipur, two each in Bagerhat and Cox's Bazar, and one in Magura.

Heavy rains coupled with gales flattened huge tracts of standing crops and washed away numerous fisheries. They also caused extensive damage to embankments in the coastal districts.

According to the disaster management ministry, over 800 people have been wounded and at least 58,450 domestic animals killed.

The government has deployed the army and the navy to help local administration and non-government organisations in rescue and relief operations. Five navy ships have been working to bring people stranded in offshore islands to safety.

Bangladesh's Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak who has visited different cyclone-hit areas in Bhola, Patuakhali, and Khulna on Tuesday said water crisis seems to be the main problem in the coastal areas. Some 278 water purification machines of the army are in operation to deal with the shortage of safe drinking water.

The NGO Red Crescent has gone in with water purifying tablets and other relief materials. The district collector has allocated 10 tons of rice and Taka 1 lakh as immediate relief.

The cyclone snapped road and river communications in Barisal. The storm destroyed livestock, crops and houses as well.

Huge areas of Patuakhali and Barguna went under eight to 10 feet of seawater.

Kuakata remained cut off from the rest of the country as three ferry terminals on Kalapara-Kuakata Highway got submerged. (ANI)