12 more bodies found in Aila-hit areas

The death toll from Cyclone Aila that hit the country’s southern coastal districts Monday afternoon rose to 167 with the recovery of 12 more bodies till today. The government confirmed the death of 12 more people in Cyclone Aila. According to the control room of the food and disaster management ministry, no one remain missing now even though officials concerned earlier said 10 might had been washed away by tidal surge. Meanwhile, the government has taken all necessary steps to provide healthcare services to the Aila-affected people, said a health and family welfare ministry handout. It said a total of 891 medical teams have been working in the cyclone-hit areas. Officials said the directorate of health is ready to form more medical teams if the civil surgeon of the respective district feels it necessary. Among the medical teams, a 15-member one has been sent to Satkhira district while a 10-member one will join them soon from Khulna. Besides, adequate oral saline, water purification tablets and other medicines have been sent to the affected areas, officials said. In its initial assessment report, the control room said the cyclone affected around 36,06,116 people of 8,01,602 families in 67 upazilas of 12 districts. Some 7,108 people were injured and 95,325 domestic animals killed in the cyclone and standing crops on some 75,119.8 acres of land were damaged completely while crops on 2,52,286 acres of land were damaged partially by the devastating cyclone. Besides, about 2,27,447 houses were fully damaged while 3,13,904 houses partially. Meanwhile, 15,150 metric tons of rice have been distributed among the storm-hit people in the coastal belt while Tk 1,95,00000 in cash.