Dhaka: The cyclone codenamed 'Bijli' or 'lightning' that brewed in the Bay of Bengal three days ago crossed the Bangladesh coastline overnight with a weakened strength, but killed at least six people and injured several dozen others, officials said on Saturday.
"The cyclone crossed the southeastern coastlines last night with an weakened strength compared to what was feared earlier," a met office spokeswomen said, adding that smaller vessels or fishing boats were asked to seek shelter as the sea remained rough under its influence.
She said the cyclone lashed the coastline packing wind speeds of up to 90 kilometres an hour.
Officials from the southeastern resort town of Cox's Bazar, which suffered the main brunt of the tropical storm, said two children and a schoolteacher were killed in the district.
They said one child was stampeded as people rushed to a cyclone shelter in Cox's Bazar Sadar while another killed in a house collapse at Pekua at the outskirts of the town. The teacher died in a stampede at Kutubdia Island.
