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Dhaka, May 25 (bdnews24.com)—Cyclone 'Aila', packing winds up to 100 kph, flung itself to the exposed Khulna coast on Monday, leaving at least eight dead, and 72 missing. The government said five people have died so far in the cyclone in Bhola and Potuakhali districts.But bdnews24.com correspondents quoting district administrations put the figure at eight. Of them three died in Chharfashion in Bhola and one each in Baufal and Galachipa in Potuakhali district, disaster management minister Abdur Razzaq said at a press briefing in Dhaka. He said prime minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the MPs to visit the affected areas. As many as 42,000 volunteers along with army, navy and coast guard members are conducting rescue and relief operations in the affected areas under local arrangements. Razzaq said damage and casualties were not severe as the wind speed caused by the cyclone was less. However, the height of the surges was much higher than before, 12 to 13 feet at places, forcing many people to seek shelter on rooftops. At places dams gave in due to the surge, flooding the areas inside the dams. The government granted 1000 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 12 lakh as relief for the affected people, the minister said adding there were already sufficient stocks of relief in the affected districts. The storm battered and flooded villages, forced thousands of people from their homes, uprooted trees and knocked out power and telephone poles, officials said. Operations at Chittagong and Mongla ports and river transport service have been suspended. Ferry communication on Paturia-Daulatdia river route was on and off from Sunday night and was finally suspended from 3pm on Monday, causing sufferings to thousands of passengers. "Aila" moved northwards inland, the centre of the storm crossed West Bengal-Khulna coast near Sagar Island of India and lay centred at Kolkata and adjoining area of India. But the remaining part of the storm was still crossing, said a special weather bulletin of the Meteorological Department at 8:30pm. It is likely to move in a northerly direction further inland. Sea will remain very rough. Mongla port has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal seven. The coastal districts of Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalokathhi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Jessore and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger alert seven. Chittagong and Cox's Bazar ports have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal six. The coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Comilla, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger signal six. Under the influence of the storm, the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Borguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience heavy or very heavy rain accompanied by squally wind speed up to 90 kph with the passage of the storm. The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Borguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind-driven surge of height six to eight feet above normal astronomical tide.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice. Heavy rains triggered by the cyclone raised river levels and burst mud embankments, flooding homes. At least 72 passengers went missing when three trawlers sank in Meghna estuary at Monpura in Bhola. A woman died when she was swept by high tide in Noakhali. It is the second storm in the Bay of Bengal in less than one month. Several people were killed and hundreds of thatched houses destroyed in Cox's Bazar on April 17.

River traffic halted
The weather has forced suspension of ferry movement on all rivers routes. Fishermen have come back from the sea because of high tide.

Noakhali
A woman, Nazma, 30, was swept aside as low-lying areas of Nijhum Island went six to seven feet under water due to hide tide at in Noakhali. Noakhali was experiencing sporadic rains under the influence of Aila since Monday morning. At least 30-35 houses were inundated after water began entering many areas of the island from 10am. Jahajmara range official Hafizuddin said many deer were likely to be swept by the sea as water level rose than the normal level.

Bagerhat
The low-lying areas, including shrimp enclosures, went four to five feet under water in high tide in Bagerhat. Bagerhat deputy commissioner Moazzem Hossain told bdnews24.com that Jaimonir Ghol, Chila of Mongla, Malliker Ber, Banshtoli and Madardia Bazar of Rampal, Rayenda Bazar and Morelganj of Sharankhola went three to four feet under water. Authorities opened 10 control rooms and 219 cyclone shelters at all upazilas and district sadar. The affected people of the inundated areas have been herded into cyclone shelters.

Patuakhali
Five villages went under water as dam of Khajura point in Kuakata collapsed leaving thousands of families stranded. Hundreds of houses and trees were damaged in the rain and squally wind that occurred from Sunday night.