The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Public sufferings in the city knew no bounds yesterday after the cyclone SIDR swept over the city at midnight Thursday causing extensive damage, especially severing power lines.

City dwellers remaind in dark for about 24 hours until filing of this report at 10:00 AM and still there was no confirmation of restoring electricity in the capital. Only the headlights of motorcars were seen lightening the streets at night yesterday in many parts of the city.

No electricity eventually led to a no-water situation in the city, as the water pumps are mainly dependent on electricity. A resident of Nikunja, Mamataj Begum said she could not cook anything yesterday, as there was no water and bought their meal from restaurant.

People who live in the footpaths of the city suffered most during the cyclone, as they could not get a place to cover their heads. As they do not have any warm clothes so they had to suffer in cold that was brought in by the gusty wind.

Students of different halls of Dhaka University could not even freshen up themselves as they found no water after waking up in the morning. Meanwhile, shop owners increasing the price of bottled mineral water taking the advantage of huge demand was also reported.

Restaurants of the city got crowded as people rushed to take food in those not being able to cook anything for the water crisis.

Long queues were seen in the CNG stations where people were seen waiting for long time hoping that electricity supply would resume soon. There were few CNG auto rickshaws running in the city yesterday.

Candles were one of the top priorities in the buying lists of the city dwellers but shop owners increased the price and were selling a stick of candle at Tk three per piece, which normally cost Tk two.