Thousands of people were injured in the south and south-western regions and most houses there were either fully or partially damaged in the cyclonic storm, one of the worst in the country.

In Bagerhat, road communications with all upazilas, including Swarankhola, Mongla and Morelganj, remained disrupted.

What happened to the residents in Dublar Char, including thousands of fishermen, could not be known as local administration failed to contact them. A coastguard team from Mongla set out for the offshore island in the morning.

One trawler, some passenger- and fishing-boats sank in the Mongla port channel, officials said.

A Sundarbans forest official told UNB that the cyclone wreaked havoc in the mangrove forests at the "first hit". "Our offices were damaged, boats capsized or washed away," he said.
Rescue and relief operations by district and police administrations, coastguard, army and Red Crescent started.


FROM: The Daily Star: Internet Edition

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