Many still without power in Cox’s Bazar, a day after deadly storm

The picture of destruction wrought by Cyclone Hamoon has emerged clearer a day after the storm devastated Cox’s Bazar with 80 kph wind speed, pulling out trees and utility poles, and destroying homes.

The coastal district was still in the dark on Wednesday, 24 hours after the cyclone made landfall and completed crossing the coast at midnight, reports bdnews24.com.

As there was no power, the mobile phone network was poor in the district. Uprooted trees and utility poles blocked many roads.

The district administration said three people died under trees or walls that collapsed because of strong wind.

“We’re still assessing the damage. It’s been difficult because of a lack of mobile phone network,” said Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran.

Md Mahbubur Rahman, mayor of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, said the storm damaged nearly 15,000 homes, including over 250 that were completely destroyed.

The storm caused more damage than expected because it hit the coast much before the Met Office’s prediction, said Bakhtiar Uddin Rubel, a member of Badarkhali Union Council in Chakaria.

“The storm has uprooted trees and destroyed homes. Water entered some areas of Dhalghata during high tide,” said Sheikh Kamal, chairman of Kutubjom Union Council in Maheshkhali.