Toll mounts to 3,000, fear of epidemic looms large in Bangladesh

The Red Crescent Society warned that the number of deaths from cyclone Sidr that pummeled 25 of Bangladesh's 64 districts on Thursday could be as high as 10,000 as reports of casualties were trickling in from inaccessible worst-hit areas. Private Bangla television put the toll at 3,000.

With bodies and carcasses rotting in open and rescuers and medical teams finding it difficult to reach survivors in the worst affected 11 districts, authorities feared outbreak of epidemic.

Nearly 27 lakh people were facing acute shortage of food and water in the coastal districts where most of the dwellings have been flattened.

The death toll has reached 2,299 with the highest number of deaths, 717, reported from Barguna district followed by 669 in Bagerhat, a spokeswoman of the Disaster Management Ministry said adding the number of dead could rise further as more information comes in from battered regions.

"The toll is jumping by hours. We fear it could be as high as 10,000," Chairman of the Red Crescent Society Abdur Rab told reporters as more then 40,000 volunteers joined army troops backed by navy boats and air force helicopters in relief efforts.

Thousands of people still remain untraced with five barges, 73 trawlers and 25 launches reported missing since the cyclone hit the coastal belt.

PM offers assistance to cyclone-hit Bangladesh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday offered India's assistance to Bangladesh, which has been hit by a major cyclone, leaving over 2,000 dead.

The PM has written to Bangladesh government and offered whatever assistance is needed for cyclone relief, a PMO spokesman said.

Over 2,000 people have been killed in the worst cyclone in over a century, destroying thousands of houses and snapping communication lines in Bangladesh.

President condoles death of people in cyclone in Bangladesh

President Pratibha Patil on Sunday condoled the death of over 2,000 people in a devastating cyclone in Bangladesh.

In a message to her Bangladeshi counterpart, Patil said she was "deeply saddened" to learn about the tragic loss of lives and substantial damage to property in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The President said she was "confident that, as always, the people of Bangladesh will face this tragedy with courage and fortitude". - DDNEWS