The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Bagerhat

Forty four more bodies were recovered in the coastal district on Sunday raising death toll from Thursday's cyclonic storm to 654.

These fresh 44 bodies were recovered from Sharankhola upazila alone, district control room source said.

Of the total victims, 594 were killed in Sharankhola upazila, 31 in Morelganj, 11 in Chitolmari, one in Mollarhat, seven in Kachua, five each in sadar and Rampal upazilas.

Control room sources said 75 unions of nine upazilas of the district were seriously affected by the cyclone.

Palli Bidyut office sources said some 78,000 subscribers remained without electricity since Thursday as five of its sub-stations and 1200km wire were damaged.

Power supply could not be restored in most parts of the city that hampered supply of drinking water seriously.

Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam said the death toll could rise further with reports reaching from remote and inaccessible areas. District Forest Officer (DFO) SM Shahidullah said vast areas of the Sunderbans were damaged and some of the forest officials remained missing. The body of Saidur Rahman, a forest guard of Dublarchar Forest Station, hailing from Sharankhola upzila, was recovered Saturday.