Kolkata’s streets. Photo:AFP
Floods Devastate India and Bangladesh Regions after Massive Cyclone
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | MAY 21st 2020
Rescue teams in Bangladesh and India are searching villages primarily in the East in search of survivors of a recent and very devastating cyclone. In the midst of their search, the teams are constantly encumbered by the threat of destructive floods and a rising number of missing and dead citizens.
In what’s been acknowledged as the most devastating cyclone (named Cyclone Amphan) to hit the regions between India and Bangladesh in over a decade, officials have stated that the death count had gone so far as to reach 82, though with more missing persons that rescue teams have yet to account for, and many left injured, it’s highly likely that the number of dead could increase.
The 120mph tropical storm pounded India and Bangladesh. Credit:Reuters
Officials went on to state that most communications were down, but that a successful evacuation warning and procedure had taken place before the cyclone hit, which is believed to have saved quite a few numbers from joining the rising death count. Once communications are back up and running as they should, authorities will be able to get a better grasp on how many people had been injured and assess the exact number of casualties from the incident.
A resident of Satkhira district on the Bangladesh coast, by the name of Azgar Ali, 49, told Reuters: “I have never seen such a cyclone in my life. It seemed like the end of the world. All I could do was to pray... Almighty Allah saved us.”
Television footage provided by Reuters showed the depth of the amassed chaos, with streets flooded, power lines torn down (some responsible for a quantity of deaths), upturned boats and abandoned as well as ruined vehicles. This is not the full extent of the damages, as a senior police official in the area named Mohammad Asaduzzaman spoke of roofs being torn off the tops of houses, and many more ruined homes that have left a large number of people without a place of solitude.
“Have been seeing visuals from West Bengal on the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan. In this challenging hour, the entire nation stands in solidarity with West Bengal.” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet expressing sympathies with their country’s more vulnerable regions.
“The tidal surge submerged some part of the forest,” said forest official Belayet Hossain, on the side of the forest belonging in the territory of Bangladesh. “We have seen trees uprooted, the tin-roofs of the guard towers blown off.”
The death toll has been split between Bangladesh and India, with 72 deaths announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in India, on Thursday. The toll was put at 10 in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.
Cyclone Amphan hit India’s coast as the country and neighboring Bangladesh are struggling with coronavirus infections. The storm also caused floods in Sri Lanka.Credit:Reuters
The low-lying, more coastal area have been hit the hardest with the influx of floods after the cyclone had blew in on Wednesday over the West Bengal region of India. The trail of destruction that’s been left in its wake left many of the low-lying villages still unable to communicate for help, according to a village official.
Many people were afraid of leaving their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic, which both countries are still trying to quell.
By Patryk Krych | © The World Daily 2020
