A cyclone that slammed into coastal areas of northeastern India and Bangladesh killed at least 32 people Monday.
Cyclone Aila's winds and rain triggered tidal waves that caused
widespread flooding. Authorities in India say at least 18 people died
in West Bengal state.
Victims either drowned or were killed in house collapses or by falling
trees. Rivers burst through mud embankments in West Bengal's Sundarbans
Tiger Reserve, home to one of the world's largest populations of tigers
as well as thousands of people.
In Bangladesh, cyclone Aila triggered huge waves in the Bay of Bengal
that submerged roads, farms and many low-lying areas. At least 11
people were reported killed In Khulna district, and thousands of others
were forced to leave their homes.
Bangladeshi authorities said they are sending medical teams, food and relief aid to the affected areas.
Storms batter Bangladesh every year. In 2007, cyclone Sidr devastated
the country's coastline, killing more than 3,500 people and displacing
two million others.
We have earlier reports from our Dha