Nearly 200 people have been killed by a cyclone that ripped through Bangladesh and Eastern India, while millions remained marooned by floodwater or forced to live in shelters.

Nearly 200 people have been killed by a cyclone that ripped through Bangladesh and Eastern India, while millions remained marooned by floodwater or forced to live in shelters.

Cyclone Aila slammed into parts of coastal Bangladesh and Eastern India, triggering tidal surges and flooding that forced people from their homes.

Millions of people were affected by the cyclone; with half a million in shelters and another half a million forced from their homes or were marooned.

Heavy rain triggered by the storm also raised river levels and burst mud embankments in the Sundarbans delta in the Eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

About 300 people were killed by Aila, which struck the Sagar isles in the Sunderbans at a maximum speed of 110 km/hr. It was categorized as a severe cyclonic storm. It hit Kolkata at 95 km/hr, where it was labelled a cyclonic storm.

The embankment had broken completely in a 400-km stretch; it was quite vulnerable in another 565 km of the total 3,500 km. There are breaks in about 800 points.

RLSS(I) Eastern India HQs, having many experiences to act in such situations, responded quickly, a call for relief materials were put out through its affiliated units, volunteers, etc. It also mobilized its own funds to get relief materials and medicines arranged.

Our disaster checklist was immediately mobilized, equipments were sorted and a crack team of 11 Life Guards and one Doctor were deployed under the leadership of Mr. Pradipta Ghosal, Vice President East.

We deployed our speed boats which had to be carried 130 kms to a point known as Basanti from where we launched our boats and also a larger mechanized boat was mobilized from our own set-up of RLSS Wilderness Camp ” Sunderbans in the Bali island.

Read the full report sent in by the Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India) in the attachment underneath.