Unseen Comprehension -02 Alim (Natural Calamities)

Natural Calamities 

প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগ 

Bangladesh is a land of natural calamities . বাংলাদেশ হল প্রাকৃতিক দু্র্যোগের দেশ ।    

Almost every year, she faces different devastating natural calamities. প্রায় প্রতি বছরই তাকে বিভিন্ন ধননের ভয়াবহ প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগের মোকাবিলা করতে হয় । 

Cyclone 'Aila' is one of them . সাইক্লোন বা ঘূর্ণিঝড়   আইলা ’ তাদের অন্যতম 

The word Aila' comes from the Dibehee language ' of Maldives. আইলা‘ শব্দটি মালদ্বীপের ‘দিবেহী ভাষা’  থেকে  এসেছে ।

It means dolphin or dolphinus gangeticus. However cyclone 'Aila' formed in the Bay of Bengal , crossed Bangladesh's  south-western coast on  May 25 .2009 with wind speeds 70-90 km per hour, triggering an  abnormally high tidal surge and heavy rains in the coastal region . 352 unions and 62 Upazilas in coastal districts -Barishal , Bhola, pirojpur , Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira , Chittagong, Cox's Bazar , Luxmipur, Feni and  Noakhali had been affected by cyclone. Some 33,44,229 people of 6,37,687 familys were affected by 'Aila' in the coastal belt. The cyclone killed nearly 200 peoples and injured some 6,665 peoples .

1120 peoples were not found and 2,00,000 people were trapped in water. The cyclone also killed 61,440 domestic animals and completely destroyed crops on some 80,667 acres of land . The cyclone fully damaged 1,79,655 houses, 341 educational and religions institutions, 641.8 km of roads and 152 bridge and culverts . It partially damaged 3,15,967 houses, 1596 educational and religious institutions and 3,175 km roads . 813.5 km embankments were washed away by tidal surge. Fishes from many farms and shrimp enclosures were also washed away . In some places , there was no dry land . The affected areas had been without electricity for over 24 hours . After  happening of Aila' the government deployed army , navy, coastguard and airforce to help local administration and non-government organizations in rescue and relif operations . Nevertheless, insufficient relief goods, shortage of drinking water and medicine created endless miseries for  affected people . Diarrhoea and other water born disease spread in the affected areas . After all , 'aila' brought an extra burden to the country's sluggish economy . From this experience, the government should take proper steps to face these kinds of natural calamities strongly.