39 dead as cyclone leaves trail of death, destruction in India, Bangladesh

By Ahmad Adil and Faisal Mahmud

NEW DELHI / DHAKA (AA) – At least 39 people were killed in Bangladesh and India due to powerful Cyclone Remal that hit the neighboring South Asian nations over the weekend, officials said.

About 24 people were killed in India, including those 11 who died due to the collapse of a quarry in eastern Mizoram state.

The severe Cyclone Remal made landfall on the Bangladeshi coast on Sunday night, affecting nearly four million people and destroying thousands of households and cropland in the two South Asian countries.

Heavy rainfall and storms continued to occur across the region.

Indian Meteorological Department warned that the northeast region is expected to receive heavy rainfall in the coming days.

In nearby Assam state, the authorities said the state has been facing a cyclonic storm Remal for two days and the initial reports from the ground suggested two people died and 17 others were injured.

Apart from the northeastern region, officials in eastern Indian West Bengal state also said six people had died as Cyclone Remal battered the region, damaging trees and houses.

Across the border in Bangladesh, officials told Anadolu that 15 people were confirmed dead in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.

Some victims drowned in the storm surge, while others perished when their homes collapsed under the weight of heavy rain and strong winds, officials from the Ministry of Disaster and Relief Management confirmed to Anadolu.

Of a total of 15, five people have died from electrocution in the past 24 hours, attributed to the heavy rain and strong winds caused by the storm.

The storm, which made landfall on Sunday night, brought torrential rain and strong gusts that persisted into Tuesday morning. These conditions are believed to have contributed to the downed power lines that caused the fatal electrocutions.