The Hindu : Front Page : Cyclone havoc moves Pranab

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Cyclone havoc moves Pranab

Sandeep Dikshit

— Photo: PTI

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee being received by Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury on his arrival at the Zia International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday.

DHAKA: Moved by the devastation he witnessed from an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected areas, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday announced India’s intention to adopt 10 battered villages for rehabilitation.

Mr. Mukherjee’s helicopter landed at Rayanda Bazar in Bagerhat district, a small village now left with just stumps for trees and collapsed houses being used as shelters. He spoke to the displaced and handed over relief material to the indigent women. The Minister spoke to some of those who got relief material dispatched by India. He directed provision of additional material such as milk packets to those with small children.

Earlier, handing over a consignment of relief material soon after arriving from Kolkata in the morning, Mr. Mukherjee announced India’s decision to further relax its moratorium on rice exports to provide more succour to the people of Bangladesh.

Making the announcement at the Zia International airport against the backdrop of an Indian Air Force heavy-lift IL-76 aircraft delivering relief material, Mr. Mukherjee said India would provide an additional five lakh tonnes of rice. New Delhi had earlier waived the export ban to dispatch 50,000 tonnes of rice. Another 20,000 tonnes of rice was being sent by sea to Chittagong port.

Despite a massive evacuation effort by the local authorities, ‘Sidar,’ the super cyclone, which struck on November 15, left over 3,500 dead and caused widespread destruction of property. On hearing of the calamity, India rushed medicines, ready-to-eat meals, blankets, tents and portable water purifiers. India’s total assistance to Bangladesh this year so far amounted to about Rs. 200 crore.

Mr. Mukherjee recalled that the Indian Parliament, in a resolution on November 19, expressed sorrow and observed a moment of silence over the tragedy in its neighbouring country.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page