Indian cyclone death toll rises to 90

The death toll from a storm that swept past the east coast of India and slammed into neighbouring Bangladesh rose to nearly 90 today.

More bodies were fished out from submerged areas in Bangladesh which reported around 53 cyclone-related deaths. Over 500 people are missing, most of them fishermen who are yet to return from the sea.

Many low-lying areas of coastal districts and offshore islands were under eight feet of water due to tidal surges. A district commissioner told the Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star that a rescue team of naval officers had set off for the affected areas.

Thousands have been rendered homeless as tidal waves as high as 13 feet swept across coastal areas. A large number of domestic animals and standing crops on farmlands were also lost.

Deputy Commissioner Abdus Samad said a naval team had left for the cyclone-hit areas. The Red Crescent also went in with water purifying tablets and other relief materials.

Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday instructed her ministers to take necessary steps and has also ordered members of the armed forces to join in the relief operations.

Indian meteorological officials suggested that a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal had turned into a cyclonic storm. They warned that coastal areas of the state should expect strong winds and heavy rainfall even today.

Cyclone Aila had weakened after hitting the landmass, but the Indian city of Kolkatta woke up on a sunny morning to witness the trail of destruction left by the storm.

At least 35 people were killed in India. Uprooted trees were found in various parts of the city and water logging was also reported from its suburbs. The Indian Army began rescue operations in the coastal districts where large scale damage is feared.

Two columns were sent to carry out rescue and relief operations while six more were on standby.

Meanwhile, the new Indian railway minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to visit an area in the South 24 Parganas district.

Oasmita Chakraborty, a 25-year-old resident of the city, told the Press Association: “When the heavy rains and wind came early in the morning we thought monsoon had arrived but it turned out be a storm.

“It was massive, something we had never seen in our life. The entire city came to a standstill.”

Over 200,000 people are affected in the city and surrounding areas after over 1,800 trees fell in the wake of the storm, public transport was disrupted and flights were suspended. Cyclone Aila has also affected the Sundarbans, which lie across India and Bangladesh, where about 300 deer are reportedly washed away.

The largest mangrove forest in the world is also home to a large concentration of wild Royal Bengal tigers, but it is unclear how they were affected by the storm. A crocodile-breeding farm in the same area has also been submerged.

Outer winds which lashed Kolkatta had speeds of more than 74.5mph but weakened before passing as close as nine miles from the city.