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'Thirty dead' in Calcutta cyclone Scores are killed by Cyclone Aila
(about 10 hours later)
More than 30 people died when a cyclone lashed the Indian city of Calcutta and nearby areas, officials say. More than 155 people have been killed by Cyclone Aila which hit Bangladesh and the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, relief officials say.
Cyclonic storm Aila has now weakened and headed north. Many people are still reported to be missing. They say that at least 500,000 people have been made homeless by the storm.
The cyclone made landfall in south-western Bangladesh on Monday afternoon. Coastal areas were flooded and uprooted trees caused chaos in Calcutta. Soldiers and border guards have joined relief efforts, but they are yet to reach some of the devastated areas.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh and India were evacuated to temporary shelters. Officials say the storm has weakened and is heading north, but heavy rains continue to damage crops and cause floods and landslides in many areas.
West Bengal state's disaster management minister, Mortaza Hossain, told the BBC that more than 100,000 people had become homeless. Salt fears
"We have rescued more than 100,000 people and sent them to safer places. We are now arranging dry food packets and drinking water pouches for them." Cyclone Aila made landfall in south-western Bangladesh on Monday afternoon. Coastal areas were flooded and uprooted trees caused chaos in Calcutta.
River banks and mud houses in Bangladesh have been completely destroyed, and crops and fisheries have also been damaged.
Many are still waiting for relief supplies to arrive
Correspondents say that the fear in Bangladesh - where 91 people have been confirmed killed - is that salt water from a tidal surge that followed the cyclone will contaminate non-saline surface water which is crucial for farming.
Bangladeshi Minister for Disaster Management, Abdur Razzak, told the BBC Bengali service that relief teams were still struggling to reach some of the worst-affected areas in the south of the country and he feared casualty numbers would rise.
Meanwhile wildlife experts say they are concerned about the fate of nearly 500 tigers living in reserves in the affected area.
'Eye of the storm'
West Bengal state's Disaster Management Minister, Mortaza Hossain, told the BBC: "We have rescued more than 100,000 people and sent them to safer places. We are now arranging dry food packets and drinking water pouches for them."
Some 100,000 people have been evacuated to safer places
Fierce winds, measuring 100km/h (65mph), ravaged parts of Calcutta and adjoining districts. "We were in the eye of the storm," Mr Hossain said.Fierce winds, measuring 100km/h (65mph), ravaged parts of Calcutta and adjoining districts. "We were in the eye of the storm," Mr Hossain said.
The army and border guards were called out to rescue people and help provide relief in eight districts of the state hit by the cyclone, he said.The army and border guards were called out to rescue people and help provide relief in eight districts of the state hit by the cyclone, he said.
Rescue and relief
Twelve people died in the South 24 Parganas district that straddles the Sundarbans delta south of Calcutta.
Some 100,000 people have been evacuated to safer places
Most deaths occurred when the cyclone flattened mud houses.
Six people died in Calcutta when huge trees uprooted by the cyclone fell on buses, cars and auto-rickshaws.
The rest of the casualties were reported from the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, Bankura, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.
Calcutta police chief Gautam Moham Chakrabarty said teams from the municipal corporation were working to clear roads blocked by uprooted trees.Calcutta police chief Gautam Moham Chakrabarty said teams from the municipal corporation were working to clear roads blocked by uprooted trees.
Calcutta metro and train services were suspended after water flooded tracks in many places.Calcutta metro and train services were suspended after water flooded tracks in many places.
Massive tidal waves ravaged scores of coastal villages and the seaside resorts of Digha, Mandarmoni and Kanthi throughout Monday.Massive tidal waves ravaged scores of coastal villages and the seaside resorts of Digha, Mandarmoni and Kanthi throughout Monday.
In Bangladesh, flooding and tidal surges hit coastal areas, with strong winds forcing the closure of the main ports of Chittagong and Mongla.
About 400,000 people were moved from five districts to cyclone shelters and schools before the storm hit, Bangladeshi officials said.
A further 300,000 people were stranded in coastal villages, they said.