Survival of the victims of the cyclone and tidal bore that hit the coastal belt of Bangladesh on Monday night is how at stake as relief operation faces serious obstacles in the absence of helicopters and adequate number of river-craft. Big vessels carrying relief goods could not reach offshore islands due to innumerable sunken river-craft and other objects tn waters

A relief ship carrying sizeable quantity of food and other relief materials set sail for Sandwip on Friday from Chittagong but could not proceed due to underwater obstructions.

Sporadic cases of diarrhoeal diseases have been reported from different parts of the cyclone affected offshore islands Oral saline and other life-sav Ing drugs were hardly available till Saturday. Non-availability of pure drinking water has created an alarming situation and If emergency steps are not taken immediately, an epidemic may break out any time.

The government has stepped up relief operation. Various voluntary agencies have also come forward to participate in the relief activities, but those are quite inadequate to face the situation.

The death toll in Monday's cyclone and tidal bore may rise to two lakh as reports of more deaths from the battered zones are still reaching our office. Death of one lakh 20 thousand Cple was officially con-

ed. Red Crescent Society sources put the death toll at one lakh 20 thousand 853. They said the figure is increasing every hour.

Our Barlsal correspondent Amp Talukdar reported that mass burials are being ar ranged due to shortage of dry places and cloths in the battered areas.

A ship carrying passengers and relief materials left for Sandwip on Friday midnight but could not reach the desti-

nation as the passage was ob structed by the sunken vessels, floating trees, littered carcasses. The ship anchored at a place far off the island. Three BIWTC vessels left for Ha Uy a on Saturday. Two ships with relief goods went to Kutubdia and Sandwtp on the same day.

LCT Kazal. another ship, was commissioned for keeping communication Ixtween HaUya and Sandwip.

In Kutubdia. bodies of 15.000 people were recovered till Saturday noon and they were burled In mass graves.

Nearly five lakh people of 10 upazilas of Barlsal district have been seriously affected by the devastating cyclone. Standing crops on 13.000 acres and about 1000 kutcha houses were damaged completely and 5000 houses partially, according to an official source

Besides, thousands of trees and electric poles were uprooted in the district causing a complete disruption of electricity. The supply of electricity however resumed on Friday.

Four passenger launches. MV Samad. MV Masud Khan. MV Etlash. and MV Baishakht sank in the river Kittan Khola during the cyclone. The motor vehicles were anchored and had no passengers.

Following Is an account of damage : 60 houses totally. 153 partially and 25 educational Institutions In paurasava area of the district; 105 houses totally. 1502 partially and 42 educational institutions in Barlsal sadar upazila; 100 houses totally. 500 partially

and 42 educational Institutions in Mehendiganj; 600 houses and 4 educational institutions totally and 11 partially tn Muladi: 141 houses totally. 502 partially and 18 educational institutions tn Hlzla; 75 houses totally. 602 partially and 14 educational institutions in Bakerganj; 170 houses and five educational Institutions in Banaripara: 100 kucha houses. 150 tin-shed houses and 3 educational institutions in Babuganj and 100 houses and two educational Institutions n Gournadi upazila.

Meanwhile. Mostafizur Rahman. MP. told newsmen at the parliament lobby that no government relief had so far reached the distressed people in Sandwip till Saturday. He said the people of the entire island need food and succour to survive the grim battle for life.

Mostafiz claimed the death toll in the devastating cyclone would cross one lakh in Sandwip alone. Of the 70.000 deaths reported so far. bodies of 17.000 persons were identified and 40.000 others missing.

He said the cross dam around the 300-square-mlle island was totally destroyed. Nearly 50.000 people lived on and around the cross dam- An estimated 30.000 people were washed away when the dam gave in due to impact of the swirling tidal surge. Sandwip has a population olf four lakh.

Damage to standing crops and infrastructures was colossal. Almost 100 per cent of the crops of the island were destroyed. Out of 106 primary

schools, 103 were razed to the ground. Twenty high schools out of 22 were blown away Nearly 80 per cent mosques and madrashas were damaged

Mostafiz claimed that diarrhoeal diseases had broken out in the affected areas and on Saturday morning, three children died. Urgent medical supplies and drinking water should be despatched to the affected areas, he said.

Meanwhile. Sultanul Karim Choudhury. MP of Banshkhali upazila told newsmen that deaths and destruction caused by the century's worst cyclone was colossal tn the upazila. He said, nearly 64.000 people are feared dead in Banshkhali upazila alone. The upazila has nine unions. Ninety five per cent of the crops have been damaged. Loss to salt beds is 80 per cent, tubewells 40 per cent and vegetables 80 per cent. Till now. 6000 of carcasses have been buried, according to upazila administration. Bodies are still hanging In the trees and are found in hilly areas and near the embankment

Our correspondent reports from Bhola : The official death toll in the cyclone In the district was said to be 209, while, according to unofficial estimate. the figure was over 500

About 150 fishing boats and trawlers carrying 1500 fishermen and crew are still missing.

Nuruddtn Khan. Chairman of Daulat Khan upazila. informed that more bodies were recovered from Meghna on Saturday.