Rescuers have
failed to reach many remote areas left battered by water surges whipped up by
cyclone Aila as it ripped through the coastline into India on Monday, killing
at least 127 people in Bangladesh. Although the newspapers say more than
160 people
Many others
went missing, local officials and residents in the areas affected by the
cyclone said on Tuesday.
The
government, however, confirmed 91 deaths in 13 coastal districts, saying that
the death toll could be rising as more deaths were reported by district
administrations.
Relief
materials were yet to reach the cyclone-hit people, who are still marooned
without food and drinking water.
The food and
disaster management minister, Abdur Razzak, said the army had been called in
for rescue and relief operation in the affected areas. Five navy vessels also
reached the coastal areas to begin relief operation on Wednesday, the minister
said at a briefing Tuesday evening.
Lives and
property in the offshore islands and coastal areas were destroyed in Bangladesh
as Aila crossed over Sagar Island into India through Rajshahi towards Dinajpur
in Bangladesh.
Water remained stagnant till Tuesday afternoon and there was no sign of recession. Water was rather rising in places in Bhola, Noakhali and Barguna during high tide in the afternoon.