Cyclone Sidr slammed the highly vulnerable low lying densely populated coastal areas of Bangladesh. It produced heavy rain. Winds were blowing up to 260 miles/hour and a storm surge. It may be the strongest cyclone to the country. It killed over 1,43,000 people killed in 1991. The death from Sidr numbers in the hundreds. But the damage to homes, crops, and livelihoods could be extensive. Total damages came close to 450 million dollars.
Sidr broke all the records of the past in respect of storms and cyclones. Never before did water level rise so high nor was the duration so long. The entire of Patuakhali, Borguna and Jhalokati districts was hit by the storm surge of over 5 metres. Much of the capital city of Dhaka was also severely affected. Electricity and water service were cut along with other damages. The local agricultural industry was also devastated as many crops were lost. Thousands of people died and many more became homeless, foodless and clothless. Even hundreds of the world famous Royal Bengal Tigers and the beautiful spotted deer met watery graves due to the cyclone. About a quarter of the world heritage site Sunderbans was damaged by the cruel cyclone. Researchers said mangrove forest Sunderbans would take at least 40 years to recover itself from this catastrophe.
There were the inhuman situations everywhere. The miseries of the affected people knew no bounds. The damage was extensive. Houses, es, offices and institutions were blown away and broken. Crops were damaged greatly and herd of cattle were washed away. People ved in open air, on boats and embankments etc. There were scarcity of food and pure drinking water. Moreover, people of the Sidr affected areas experienced severe health problems. Diarrhoea and dysentery spread due to shortage of drinking water. Other post storm diseases were jaundice, pneumonia, cholera, skin diseases, eye infections, typhoid fever etc. The people badly needed food, shelter, clothes, medicine, pure drinking water etc.
Thus Sidr has imprinted a deep sore the breast of Bangladesh. Those inhuman situations were tackled with the combined help and assistance. Everyone had come forward to the best of their capacity to help the Sidr affected people. The plight of the people also had drawn the attention of many foreign governments. They had extended their help as well. It is high time we took preventive measures to lead a disaster free life.
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