Another low formed in the northwest Bay yesterday, only hours after a depression-triggered inclement weather for three days across the country improved.

Weather experts said last night they were yet to ascertain how far was the low from the country's coastal region.

It will take another 24 to 48 hours to exactly locate the low and predict if it will turn into a depression as was the case with the previous low, said Shamsuddin Ahmed, assistant director of Meteorological Department.

“It is uncertain whether the low will hit Bangladesh coast or not. It may weaken while still in the northwest Bay or may move towards West Bengal and Orissa in India,” he said.

Terming it a monsoon low, he however said in case it moves towards Bangladesh, it will cause heavy rain and tidal surge as in the last few days.

Meanwhile, thousands of people remained marooned as tidal surge coupled with rain submerged vast areas in coastal districts, destroyed standing crops, houses and washed away shrimp enclosures and flood protection embankments. The depression that triggered the calamity weakened from Friday evening.

A government yesterday said 12 people were killed in the calamity during the last few days while many fishermen in the coastal areas were missing. About 2,500 thatched houses were completely destroyed.

About 75km of embankment was completely damaged and

another 415km partially in the southwest region, it said.

The government is distributing around 3,150 tonnes of rice and Tk 33 lakh through local administration in the affected areas.

River communication resumed yesterday after 1:00pm as weather condition improved, said a BIWTA official.

Our correspondents from Barisal and Patuakhali reported that about 100 villages in Patuakhali and vast areas in 20 unions in Borhanuddin, Lalmohon and Charfassion upazilas in Bhola were still underwater.

About 18 km of flood protection embankment in Patuakhali has been damaged completely and many other parts of it par-tially, said Md Siddiqur Rahman, executive engineer of Water Development Board, Patuakhali.

Lawmaker from Bhola-4 Abdullah-Al-Islam Jacob said about 8km of embankment in Char Kukrimukri in Bhola is completely damaged. There are also breaches in other parts of the embankment in Bhola Sadar, Charfassion and Borhanuddin upazilas.

Saline water is slowly entering through the damaged embankments. And locals are trying to prevent this, he added.

Almost all hatcheries in Bhola stand completely damaged, the lawmaker said.

Towfiqul Islam, relief and rehabilitation officer of Patuakhali, said about 10,000 hectares of paddy fields in the district are under water. And about 700 cattle died in the last fewdays.

Road communication with Kuakata sea resort continues only during low tide and remains suspended during high tide.

The Aila-hit areas in Khulna and Bagerhat have been again affected by the heavy rain, reports our Khulna correspondent.

About 47 villages have been inundated in Aila-affected Dakop area said upazila chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain. Around 40,000 new homeless joined the others on the embankments since the Aila a year ago.

InChandpur, about 20 chars and low-lying areas are under water. Fish and crops have been damaged. About 20,000 people are affected in it. our Chandpur correspondent adds.

Our Satkhira correspondent reports: At least 17 villages in Aila-affected Shyamnagar upazila were inundated due to damage of the embankment on Kabodak river.