DACCA: Over 5,000 people are feared to have been killed in the cyclonic storm and tidal wave that swept through the eight districts of the province on Tuesday. The official report says 998 people have lost their lives in the cyclone.
The highest number of deaths, 526, has been reported from Barisal which presented a grim picture of devastation after high tidal waves swept through it.
A pall of gloom hung over the southern districts of East Pakistan today [May 14] as relief operations went into full gear with the restoration of normal means of communications. A squad of senior medical students rushed to the affected areas of the province with sufficient medicines for mass inoculation in view of the danger of outbreak of epidemics. The province has plunged into grief and mourning as eye-witnesses have started pouring into the district headquarters to give ghastly reports of the frightful day.
A former Provincial Minister, Syed Azizul Hug, who arrived today from his hometown told newsmen that thousands of people had lost their lives in the coastal areas of Barisal. He said 135 boats had capsized in Barisal claiming heavy loss to lives. Hundreds of people who were injured were flocking to the nearest hospitals for treatment, the reports said. The number of cattle headlost duringthe cycloneisreported to be higher still.
Meanwhile, a door-to-door survey has been ordered by the Government for proper assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone. In Dacca City normalcy has almost been restored with the clearance of uprooted trees and fallen electric poles. There has been considerable improvement in power supply, water supply and communications. The WAPDA authorities, line servicemen and police are continuing their efforts to bring complete normalcy to Dacca.
