The cyclonic storm "Aila" which crossed southwestern Bangladesh's coastal area on Monday have so far claimed 72 people's lives in the country's eight coastal districts,local officials said on Tuesday.

Tabibur Rahman, chief of the control room in the southwestern Satkhira district, told Xinhua over phone on Tuesday that they came to know that 25 people were killed in the district due to the cyclonic storm.

Sheikh Alimuzzaman, officer-in-charge in the control room of the southwestern Khulna district, said they were informed that 20 people in the district died and the death toll may rise further.

Among the rest 27 victims, 8 were from southeastern Noakhali district, 6 from southeastern Lakshipur district, 5 from southern Patuakhali, 4 from southern Bola, 2 each from southern Barisal and Bagerhat districts, officials in charge of the districts told Xinhua over phone respectively on Tuesday.

Local police chief of Hatia sub-district of Noakhali district Abdul Rob said structures on an offshore island which accommodates some 20,000 people under the Hatia sub-district were almost completely damaged by the tide wave.

Besides, he said some 40,000 to 50,000 deer on the island were either drought and washed away.

The cyclonic storm "Aila" formed in Bay of Bengal caused havoc in Bangladesh's 11 coastal districts on Monday leaving deaths and destruction and hundreds of thousands of people affected, officials said.

Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak said late Monday afternoon the intensity of cyclone was not strong but abnormal tidal surge washed away many houses and a number of embankments in coastal districts of Barisal, Bagerhat, Lakshipur and Noakhali.

Thousands of thatched houses in Bangladesh's coastal area were washed away and hundreds of thousands of islanders marooned by 10- 13 feet (3-4 meters) high surge caused under the impact of the cyclone, officials said.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Tuesday morning said the cyclonic storm "Aila" which started crossing southwestern Bangladesh's Khulna coast from Monday afternoon has completed crossing.

The country's southwestern maritime port of Mongla has been advised to lower danger signal No. 7 to local cautionary signal number 3, the met office said its latest bulletin on Tuesday.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday ordered the armed forces to start rescue and relief operation alongside the civil administration.

Food Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman who is visiting the southern Khulna district told Xinhua over phone that the rescue operation is going on in full swing and the army personnel have been deployed to deliver relief materials to some remote marooned islands.

He said assessment of losses is being prepared, according to which the government will take further steps.

Rahman earlier said the government has allocated 1.2 million taka (about 17,143 U.S. dollars) cash and 1,000 tons of rice for the affected people. He said adequate relief materials are kept stock for the affected people.

On Nov. 15, 2007, a devastating cyclone Sidr battered Bangladesh's southern and southwestern coastal areas leaving thousands of people dead or missing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2009)