Graphic showing the path of Tropical Cyclone Sidr. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DHAKA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 1100 people were killed, many missing and thousands injured in Bangladesh as a powerful cyclone lashed country's south and southwestern regions Thursday evening.

    Private news agency UNB reported Friday among the 1100 people 500 are from southern Barguna district.

    Official television station BTV put the death toll at 455.

    Rescuers and survivors feared death toll would climb up further with availability of a clear picture of death and destruction from remote and inaccessible islands that remained cut off till Friday evening.

Families look at the devestation caused by the cyclone in the village Kanainagar, in Mongla in Khulna, some 320 kms south of the capital Dhaka.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The terrible tropical storm code-named SIDR with a speed of up to 240 kph crossed through southern Barisal-Khulna belt from the Bay of Bengal early Friday, flattening thousands of houses, uprooting trees, snapping telephone and power lines.

    All the country was under darkness because the cyclone made the national grid failed to work. Some parts of the country have resumed electricity supply, but most parts of the country still have no electricity.

    Chief Advisor of interim government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and army chief General Moeen U Ahmed visited the worst hit coastal districts by helicopter and ordered local administration to gear up relief operation.



EC announces fast-track aid for cyclone victims in Bangladesh

People take shelter at the Chila cyclone shelter in Khulna district, south of Dhaka. More than 1100 people were killed, many missing and thousands injured in Bangladesh as a powerful cyclone lashed country's south and southwestern regions Thursday evening.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BRUSSELS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission released here Friday 1.5 million euros (about 2.1 million U.S. dollars) in fast-track aid to help victims of Cyclone Sidr which struck Bangladesh Thursday evening.

    Louis Michel, the European Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "This is a major tragedy with hundreds already known to have died and hundreds of thousands suffering from this disaster."  Full story 

Bangladeshi resident shocked at loss of lives by cyclone

    He also conveyed sympathy to the affected families. Full story 

Backgrounder: Over 80 cyclones ravage Bangladesh in 131 years

    DHAKA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's coasts have been hit by over 80 cyclones in the past 131 years since 1876, killing about 2million people and making many more millions homeless, meteorologists said.

    On Nov. 1, 1876, the "Great Bakerganj Storm" hit southern Barisal region at a speed of 220 kmh, killing about 200,000 people. It was considered "a great human disaster" as the country's population was scanty compared with 140 million nowadays. Full story

Cyclone SIDR starts pounding on Bangladesh's coastline

    DHAKA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A powerful cyclone with strong winds started pounding on Bangladesh's south and southwestern coast from Thursday evening.

    Officials engaged in evacuation from remote offshore islands said winds with a speed of 100 to 130 kph started lashing their areas ahead of impending attack by the super severe Cyclone "SIDR".  Full story

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