။ Cyclone Aila ravages Bangladesh coastlines, 11 killed

Dhaka, 25 May : At least 11 people, mostly children, were killed today as cyclone "Aila", packing windspeed of up to 100 kilometres per hour, slammed into the southern coastlines of Bangladesh bursting embankments, levelling houses and flooding low-lying localities.The Met office said the main brunt of the cyclone spared Bangladesh as West Bengal suffered the storm fury but at least five deaths were caused alone in the coastal Bhola district, which appeared to be the worst-affected area according to initial reports. "The cyclone crossed the coastline after the evening," a Met office spokesman said. Five deaths were reported from Bhola, three from Noakhali, one from Barisal, one from Jhalkathi and one from Patuakhali, with most of the victims being children.Officials reached here by phone said some 30 people including three children were missing in southeastern Cox's Bazar, where the cyclone also left its scourge breaking up embankments. "At least 50,000 people took refuge at cyclone shelters but another 100,000 are believed to be marooned by gushing waters due to sudden embankment collapse in 13 upazilas," Red Crescent spokeswomen Rezia Jobed said. ။ Photo : STAR