Photo: Messenger
The cyclonic storm Remal has wreaked havoc across various areas of the coastal district of Bhola under Barishal division, leaving numerous homes destroyed and many families in dire condition, in need of urgent rehabilitation.
The natural disaster has claimed the lives of three more people in Bhola due to incidents including building collapses and snake bites, bringing the local death toll to six.
Moreover, a 5-kilometre embankment in Bhola has collapsed due to the cyclone's tidal surge. A barge used for dumping blocks and geo-bags into the Meghna River to prevent erosion has also sunk.
Even after two days of the cyclone hitting, the weather is still adverse, with intermittent light to moderate rain since Tuesday morning.
Locals said the 40-year-old Faruk was severely injured along with his wife when a large tree fell on their kitchen during the storm in Sadar upazila. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Faruk was declared dead.
Similarly, Abu Saeed, 55, died while working in his garden during the storm, and Abul Kashem, 75, passed away after a tree fell on his house, causing him severe distress.
Despite the official death toll of three reported by the district's relief and rehabilitation officer S.M. Delwar Hossain, locals claimed the number was actually six.
District’s Water Development Board Executive Engineer Hasanuzzaman said severe damage to embankments across Bhola Sadar, Daulatkhan, and Borhanuddin upazilas, resulting in around Tk 4 crore in losses.
Efforts to repair the embankments will begin once the tidal pressure falls. Furthermore, a contractor's barge used for anti-erosion work in Elisha Launch Ghat was lost to the storm, and cement bags worth millions were damaged by the surge, he informed.
In total, 7,623 homes were damaged or destroyed, with substantial losses to agricultural land, fisheries, and infrastructure. The agricultural department reported the damage to 23,235 hectares of crops, including vegetables, rice, and other produce.
Relief efforts are underway, with cash and aid distributed to affected families. On Tuesday afternoon, relief was provided to families in the Dhania Cyclone Shelter by Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Sajal Chandra Shill.
Bhola's Deputy Commissioner Arifuzzaman said necessary measures for rehabilitation are being taken. Relief efforts continue with the support of local officials and volunteers, ensuring the affected families receive essential supplies, including rice, salt, oil, lentils and spices.
Messenger/Sumon
