Cyclone Sitrang kills at least 11 across Bangladesh

At least 11 people died in five districts across Bangladesh as the cyclone Sitrang made landfall early Tuesday and crossed Barishal-Chattogram coast, leaving a trail of destruction.

Most of the casualties happened because of falling of trees since Monday morning as Bangladesh experienced moderate to heavy rains throughout the day.  

In Cumilla’s Nangalcoat upazila, a couple and their four-year-old daughter died after a huge tree fell on their house at Hesakhal area on Monday night. They were asleep when it happened.

Md Rayhan Mahbub, Nangalkot Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said police rushed to the scene after the incident took place killing Nizam Uddin, his wife Sharmin Akter Shathi and their daughter Nusrat Akter Liza.  

The incident occurred around 10 pm when the wind speed was 60 kmph in Cumilla as the cyclone was making landfall, he said.

A 35-year-old woman--Morzina Begum--was first reported to be dead as a tree fell on her head at Lohagara upazila complex in Narail around 11 am on Monday.

Morzina hailing from Bagerhat used to work as a maid at Rajpur village in the upazila, said Md Nasir Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Lohagara Police Station.

During the incident her 11-year-old son was with her, but he survived, said the OC.

In Sirajganj sadar upazila, a mother and her son died as their boat sank in a canal of Jamuna River on Monday night.

The deceased were identified as Ayesha Siddka, 30, wife of Khokon Sheikh from Purbo Mohonpur village, and her son Arafat Rahman, 5, said Mosaddek Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station.

Ayesha’s husband and two other children were rescued from the scene of the accident, he said.

They were traveling home through the canal on a boat around 8 pm Monday when it capsized amid bad weather. Arafat died at the scene while Aysha was declared dead after being taken to a hospital, said the OC.

In Bhola, four people died at sadar, Doulatkhan, Lalmohan and Char Fasson being crushed under trees and from drowning.

The deceased were identified as Mofijul Islam, 60, from sadar upazila, Bibi Khadiza, 20, from Doulatkhan upazila, Rabeya, 30, from Lalmohan upazila, and Monir, 30 from Char Fasson upazila, said Delwar Hossain, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer.

Mofizul died after a tree fell on his house on Monday night at Dhania union in sadar upazila and Bibi Khadiza also died being crushed under a tree. Monir was on a motorcycle when a tree branch fell, leaving him dead on the spot while Rabeya drowned.  

In Barguna sadar upazila a 110-year-old woman died while having dinner as a tree fell on her house at Sonakhali village.

She was alone in the house and died instantly, said Humayun Kabir, local Union Parishad Chairman.

- UNB